Photographers in conversation: Essential guidance for new photographers on technique and artistic growth. That’s what ‘Tog Talk’ is all about—bringing photographers together to share insights and elevate their craft.
Tog-Talk is the home of UK professional photographer, Kevin Ahronson (Founder of Hampshire School of Photography). Every two weeks he is joined by one of his ex-students (now turned professional photographer) Kelly Perrin, where they'll dive deep into topics that matter to beginners, from mastering your camera settings to developing your unique style.
On alternating weeks, Kevin will dedicate the episode to answering listener questions, providing personalised advice to help you overcome challenges and grow as a photographer. Whether you’re struggling with exposure, landscape photography, street photography, photographing people, portraits and families, macro photography, flash photography, learning about editing with Photoshop or Lightroom, seeking composition tips, or exploring creative ideas, Tog Talk is your go-to resource for learning and inspiration.
Make sure you subscribe, so that you never miss an episode of this engaging and informative podcast.
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Ever wondered how a simple filter could transform your photography?
In this solo episode of Tog-Talk, I dive into the world of polarising filters, answering a listener’s question about their usage and benefits. I explore how polarising filters work, why they’re essential for many photographers, and share personal experiences that highlight their impact on image quality.
Alongside the technical explanation, I reminisce about my early days with Olympus film cameras and offer practical advice for both beginners and experienced photographers alike.
Discover the magic behind polarising filters and how they can elevate your shots. I break down the evolution from linear to circular polarisers and how these filters can drastically enhance your images by reducing reflections and enriching skies.
Final Thoughts:
I wrap up the episode with a reminder about the power of polarising filters for both landscape and portrait photography, encouraging you to explore the creative possibilities they offer. I also hint at future episodes where I’ll cover more technical topics in-depth.
Next Episode: Stay tuned for more photography insights and the return of my co-host Kelly!
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Host: Kevin Ahronson, Founder of Hampshire School of Photography Co-Host: Kelly Perring
Episode Summary:
In this thought-provoking episode, Kevin Ahronson and his co-host, Kelly Perrin, dive into one of the most controversial topics in photography today: the role of Artificial Intelligence. With humor, insight, and a touch of personal reflection, Kevin and Kelly explore whether AI is a powerful tool for photographers or a potential threat to the craft they love.
•Kelly’s Latest Projects: Kelly shares exciting updates from her photography studio, including mini sessions, a unique transitional photo shoot, and an upcoming photography competition for the Hampshire Photography Network.
•AI as a Game Changer: Kevin and Kelly talk candidly about how AI has transformed the way photographers manage their businesses—from automating text generation to enhancing marketing efforts—and how both use AI in their work.
•AI in Photo Editing: Kevin explains how AI tools like Adobe Firefly, Topaz, and Lightroom’s new features have saved him hours of editing while maintaining creative integrity. He contrasts the efficiencies AI provides with the ethical dilemmas it presents.
•Ethical Dilemmas and Real-Life Impacts: Kelly shares her personal experience with AI-generated images, including the unexpected emotional impact of seeing “flawless” AI versions of herself. The duo dives deep into the societal concerns of AI-generated beauty standards, misinformation, and the influence on young generations.
•AI in Competition: The conversation turns to the controversy of AI-generated images in photography competitions, referencing the infamous Sony World Photography Award incident, where an AI-created image won a prestigious prize.
•The Future of Photography: Kevin shares his predictions on how AI will evolve in the photography industry over the next 5 to 10 years, touching on the resurgence of film photography and the enduring human love for simple, tactile creative processes.
Photography Basics Ep.9 Staying Motivated with your Photography
At some point in your photography, your enthusiasm will sadly decline. It's inevitable. It happens to most photographers, so don't feel guilty.
It has happened to me a number of times over the years, and through those experiences, I believe I have found some of the best solutions to keep me constantly motivated.
This is episode nine of a 10-part series looking at Photography Basics. In this episode I look at what to do when your photography-mojo leaves you, when inspiration and motivation feel beyond reach.
If you've ever found yourself in the wilderness, dry, lacking creative inspiration, you were not alone and hopefully the experiences I share with you today will be genuinely helpful the next time it happens.
Improving your photography I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to this broadcast and I hope that you have found it interesting as well as entertaining. If you're looking to imporove your photography and you live close enough to our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire, you could attend one of our workshops (or our longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.
If you're at the beginning of your photography journey you might find this one-day introduction, just what you're looking for:
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer! Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.
Want something more? Alternatively, If you want a course that raises the bar, something to immerse yourself in for a whole year, you'll want to join our Photography Masterclass. Run twice a year, with intakes during Spring and Autumn, it is our core workshop.
Photography Basics Part 8: Which Lens Should You Buy Next?
Episode 8 of the 10-part Photography Basics series and we are asking the question that I am asked all the time...
"Which Lens Should You Buy Next?"
Having got the kit lens that came with your new camera, you're now looking to take your photography to the next level. You realise that this lens is perhaps not the best lens to help you. Kit lenses are usually (there are some exceptions) very low quality and to get the kind of photos you're hoping for, you really need to get something else.
This week's Tog-Talk unpacks some of the mystery surrounding lenses and I give you my recommendations for the next lens to buy...
Improving your photography I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to this broadcast and I hope that you have found it interesting as well as entertaining. If you're looking to imporove your photography and you live close enough to our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire, you could attend one of our workshops (or our longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.
If you're at the beginning of your photography journey you might find this one-day introduction, just what you're looking for:
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer! Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.
Want something more? Alternatively, If you want a course that raises the bar, something to immerse yourself in for a whole year, you'll want to join our Photography Masterclass. Run twice a year, with intakes during Spring and Autumn, it is our core workshop.
This is such a common question among new photographers.
Surely with today's super-clever (and super-expensive) digital cameras, you'd expect the technology to guarantee that every shot is perfectly exposed, every time? And yet it isn't.
The thing is, cameras can't read our minds. They don't know what we're thinking. They have no idea what creative thoughts are going through our minds when we look at a scene.
They simply measure the light they see and react according to their programming. It is up to us to take control of the camera to get the results we want - and in this week's episode I will show you a couple of really easy techniques that anyone can master.
Improving your photography I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to this broadcast and I hope that you have found it interesting as well as entertaining. If you're looking to improve your photography and you live close enough to our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire, you could attend one of our workshops (or our longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.
If you're at the beginning of your photography journey you might find this one-day introduction, just what you're looking for:
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer! Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.
Want something more? Alternatively, If you want a course that raises the bar, something to immerse yourself in for a whole year, you'll want to join our Photography Masterclass. Run twice a year, with intakes during Spring and Autumn, it is our core workshop.
Creative Table Top Photography with guest Helen Davies
Some of us love to photograph beautiful landscapes, others like to shoot people... maybe in the studio or maybe capture them candidly on the street. Helen Davies does most of her photography on the kitchen table and produces stunning images.
This week's Tog-Talk takes a week off from the current series on Photography Basics to look at a very talented lady. We will return to the 'Basics' series next week as we look at tips on getting your photos correctly exposed, especially under difficult lighting situations.
But now, it's back to Helen...
Creative Table-Top Photography I've known Helen for a few years and I have been regularly impressed by the quality of her work and her creative imagination . Working with liquids, lights and various items usually found in the kitchen, she has proved to me that photography is not just landscapes and people.
In this weeks's Tog-Talk, Helen reveals her secrets for taking great table-top shots... and along the way, we have a few giggles as well.
I've taken the step of posting additional information and examples of her work in my blog, The Photography Teacher. There's only so much information that can be shared in a podcast. With a visual medium like photography, sometimes there simply has to be a way to show off the images.
Check out the The Photography Teacher to see some of Helen's work, and while you're there, feast upon all the other tutorials that are freely available on the site, including the higly popular 30 Days of Photoshop series.
Improving your photography I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to this broadcast and I hope that you have found it interesting as well as entertaining. If you're looking to imporove your photography and you live close enough to our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire, you could attend one of our workshops (or our longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.If you're at the beginning of your photography journey you might find this one-day introduction, just what you're looking for:
Continuing the 10 part series looking at photography basics... today we focus on focus.
More important than Exposure? Nailing a sharp focus is arguably more important than getting the exposure right. Take a photo either over or under-exposed, and in most cases you can correct it in post. Take a photo out of focus and there really isn't much you can do to.
If you take a photo and the image is soft, if your subject is clearly not sharp, then the chances are that you will have to bin that photo. Software sharpening can only go so far. It can't sharpen an out-of-focus image, but it is very good and making an already sharp photo look even sharper.
This week's episode There are lots of ways to ensure your photos are sharp and in this week's Tog-Talk I will show you two very simple techniques.
Photography is obviously a visual medium and Tog-Talk isn't. In an audio broadcast, there will always be limitations on what I can effectively teach.
However, you may want to check out The Photography Teacher, my online resource that includes techniques, tips and video tutorials on many aspects of photography.
Ultimately, if you live close enough to our training centre you could attend one of our workshops (or longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.
Some of the courses and workshops run at our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer !
Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.
Believe it or not, there are more ways to take a photo than by simply leaving the camera switched to AUTO.
AUTO mode is great for beginners and those who just want to shoot snaps, but if you want to take control of your camera and unleash your creative potential, you need to come out of AUTO and explore some of the other shooting modes.
Common Camera Shooting Modes Depending on your camera (because not all cameras are the same), your will normally have a choice of:
AUTO
Program Mode (not all cameras have this)
Aperture Priority Mode
Shutter Priority Mode
Manual Mode
Program Mode Program Mode is useful, although for some reason it's not that popular. I've rarely met anyone who uses it. It's just like shooting in AUTO but... it allows you to override some of the camera's settings. This gives you some very useful creative control.
Aperture Priority Mode The world's most popular shooting mode, used by more photographers than any other mode. It's fast, easy and you still have a lot of additional control to override the camera's settings if the image needs tweaking.
In this mode, you chose the aperture (you give priority to the aperture) and the camera does the rest. It's a kind of 'semi-automatic' mode, working out what shutter speed to shoot at... based on the aperture you've chosen. Choosing the aperture is important if you want to control your Depth -of-Field (how much of your image is going to be in focus).
Shutter Priority Mode This is the opposite of Aperture Priority. You choose the shutter and the camera will pick an aperture. Often used by sport and wildlife photographers, or anyone else shooting fast-moving subjects.
Manual Mode Often thought of by many to be the shooting mode of choice for professionals. But they would be wrong. Granted, it is probably more popular amongst pros, most of them still shoot in Aperture Priority most of the time. Respective Pros & ConsThere are advantages and disadvantages in all of these modes, familiarity with them could help you pick the right one for the right situation. No one single mode is best for everything, or for every camera type. For instance, I shoot mostly in Aperture Priority when using my DSLR cameras, but mostly Manual when using my mirrorless cameras. However, I am happy to switch between modes as the job requires.Some of the courses and workshops run at our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire
So now we're looking at the third piece of the puzzle, of what is traditionally referred to as the Exposure Triangle.
When you combine the three elements of the Exposure Triangle, they interact with each other in what's often referred to as the law of reciprocity.
This reciprocating relationship between aperture, shutter speed and ISO allows us to take control of the light coming into the camera - and we chose which of the three elements will take priority, which side effects will dominate and which do not.
What actually is ISO? I meet very few photographers who fully understand what ISO is. I meet even fewer who know what the initials ISO stand for.
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organisation that looks after thousands of standards worldwide. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the International Organization for Standardization controls over 24,000 standards (at the time of writing) from health and the environment, to electrical engineering and telecommunications, and of course... photography.
Its range of influence on world standards is huge and from our perspective, any camera manufacturer, wishing to produce a new camera sensor, has to follow ISO's guidelines to comply with international standards.
Photography has a number of standards controlled by ISO, but perhaps ISO12232:2019 is the one we're most interested in today.
It specifies:
'the method for assigning and reporting ISO speed ratings, ISO speed latitude ratings, standard output sensitivity values, and recommended exposure index values, for digital still cameras. It is applicable to both monochrome and colour digital still cameras'
Back to our cameras ISO replaced the old film-speed rating ASA (American Standards Association) around 1987. Back in the day, you would buy a roll of film which had a fixed speed rating (eg. ASA100, ASA200, or ASA400) and you were locked into that rating. Come the arrival of digital cameras, we found that we were able to change that speed rating (or ISO) to virtually whatever we wanted, and a whole new era of flexible exposure control began. This week's Tog-Talk is quite a short one, but I think you will find it interesting. If you have any questions, write to me at: Some links from this week's Tog-Talk
Photography Basics Pt.2 An introduction to the Aperture
Continuing our ten-part mini series for new photographers (Photography Basics), this week we are looking at the Aperture.
Whilst most people are familiar with the role of the aperture in terms of controlling the amount of light that enters the camera... perhaps not so many understand the relationship between aperture and the other two elements of the exposure triangle: shutter speed and ISO.
Then there's the side effect of changing the aperture... the impact it has upon the Depth of Field (DoF), the amount of the photo that appears sharp.
The size of the aperture affects how much of your photo is in focus. Wide apertures give you a narrow DoF, whereas small apertures give you wider ones.
As a portrait photographer I may want to soften the background behind someone I'm photographing, to help them stand out from the background. Picking a wide open aperture like f/2 or f/1.8 will brilliantly isolate the subject by giving me a narrow DoF.
Conversely, if I'm shooting a landscape scene, I may want both my foreground and background sharp, in which case I pick a smaller aperture like f/11 or f/16 to give me a wide DoF.
Understanding the aperture will help you take control of your camera and your picture.
Some links from the discussion:
These are great sources of used gear that I personally recommend.
Crop Sensor Cameras. This ancient video I made back in 2016 should help explain what a crop frame (or crop sensor) camera is.
Introduction To Photography (1-day Workshop) Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer !Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.PLEASE NOTE: All course fees will be going up on 1st April (2022). And no, this is not an April fool ! If you register for any course before that date, you will get it at current prices.Use this online tool to assess your photography knowledge and get a snapshot of your strengths and weaknesses.Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border with Berkshire and Surrey.Its wide ranging curriculum teac
•Advice for AI Experimenters: Kevin offers practical wisdom for photographers curious about experimenting with AI in their workflow—encouraging moderation and mindful application.
Memorable Quotes:
•“AI is like a good single malt whiskey—enjoy it, but in moderation!” – Kevin
•“We love our technology, but we get romantic about the old stuff.” – Kevin
•“It was such a sense of achievement when that first film image appeared. You can’t duplicate that with digital.” – Kelly
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Students on the Photography Masterclass will build a solid foundation of technical and creative skills . They will learn not only how their cameras work and how to shoot with a creative eye, but there are modules on photographing people, working with flash, shooting landscapes, macro photography, as well as two modules on editing.
This is a ten-module photography course with photo-assignments between sessions. Each session lasts three hours and will include time to examine assignment images and take part in practicals (where appropriate)
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Students on the Photography Masterclass will build a solid foundation of technical and creative skills . They will learn not only how their cameras work and how to shoot with a creative eye, but there are modules on photographing people, working with flash, shooting landscapes, macro photography, as well as two modules on editing.
This is a ten-module photography course with photo-assignments between sessions. Each session lasts three hours and will include time to examine assignment images and take part in practicals (where appropriate).
Or...
Or you could simple have a go at our
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Students on the Photography Masterclass will build a solid foundation of technical and creative skills . They will learn not only how their cameras work and how to shoot with a creative eye, but there are modules on photographing people, working with flash, shooting landscapes, macro photography, as well as two modules on editing.
This is a ten-module photography course with photo-assignments between sessions. Each session lasts three hours and will include time to examine assignment images and take part in practicals (where app
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer! Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Students on the Photography Masterclass will immerse themselves in photography for a whole year, working as part of the larger group but also in smaller groups of 2 or 3, supporting and assisting each other.
This is a ten-module photography course with photo-assignments between sessions. Each session lasts three hours and will include time to examine assignment images and take part in practicals (where appropriate).
Or...
Or you could simple have a go at our Photography Assessment Tool, to test your photography knowledge.
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowl
Got a Photography Question?
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
If you have a burning question about (virtually) anything to do with photography, click on this link. You can record your question onto your device (phone, laptop, etc) and if picked, I will play it during the show. https://www.tog-talk.com/voicemail/
Looking for courses
Want to find out about my live, in-person workshops, check out the Hampshire School of Photography website:
