Tog-Talk

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to TOG TALK, where we dive into the heart of photographic expression. In this episode, we embark on a fascinating exploration of the photographer's mind, investigating why some naturally gravitate toward technical mastery while others flourish in creative expression. Through engaging discussions (some of them quite hysterical!) with my co-host - commercial photographer Kelly Perrin, we examine the influences that have tremendous impact on the type of photographers we ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview: In this week’s solo episode, Kevin tackles one of the most common challenges in photography: how to correctly expose a subject in front of a bright background, such as a child standing by a window. Kevin shares his 55+ years of expertise to break down this issue with actionable solutions for photographers of all levels. Key Topics Discussed: 1.The Backlit Problem: •Why cameras struggle to expose for both a bright background and a darker subject. •Examples ...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Episode 40 of TOG Talk, the podcast where our intrepid pair of photographers gather for a lively mix of banter, insight, and a sprinkling of wisdom from decades behind the lens. This week, hosts Kevin Ahronson, founder of Hampshire School of Photography (with 55 years of snapping under his belt), and Kelly Perrin, commercial photographer and studio owner, dive headfirst into a debate that’s divided photographers for generations: prime lenses versus zoom lenses. Pac...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Tog-Talk! I’m Kevin Ahronson from the Hampshire School of Photography, and I’m thrilled to have you with me for this solo episode. Just a couple of weeks away from my 70th birthday, I still feel like that young photographer who picked up his first camera back in 1969. Age might have added some grey hairs (and perhaps a bit more wisdom!), but my passion for photography—and teaching it—hasn’t dimmed one bit. In fact, it’s only grown stronger. There’s something magica...

Send us Fan Mail Show Notes for Tog Talk – Episode: DSLR vs Mirrorless Cameras In this episode of Tog Talk, Kelly and Kevin delve into the world of camera evolution, discussing the ever-popular debate: DSLR versus mirrorless cameras. With an autumn chill in the air, they warmly welcome listeners into a candid and humorous conversation that balances technical insight with playful banter. The duo begins by exploring the functional differences between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. Kevin outlines ...

Send us Fan Mail Tog-Talk Episode 37: Going Manual Host: Kevin Ahronson, Founder of Hampshire School of Photography In this solo episode of Tog-Talk, Kevin Ahronson addresses a common question for beginner photographers: “How do I move from auto mode to manual mode?” Kevin, with over five decades of photography experience and a seasoned photography teacher, breaks down the basics of manual shooting. Kevin explains that while auto mode is great for beginners, manual mode offers far more contro...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Tog Talk, the podcast where photographers come together for insightful and often humorous discussions on all things photography. I’m your host, Kevin Ahronson, from the Hampshire School of Photography, and today, I’m joined by my brilliant co-host, and commercial photographer, Kelly Perrin. If you’re tuning in for the first time, Tog Talk is all about photographers in conversation, whether you’re a seasoned pro or someone just getting started with your camera. T...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of Tog-Talk: Photographers in Conversation! I’m Kevin Ahronson, founder of the Hampshire School of Photography, and this week, it’s a solo episode where I’ll be answering a listener question. Just as a quick reminder, every other week, I fly solo, diving into the photography questions you send in, while on alternating weeks, I’m joined by my fantastic co-host, Kelly Perrin from the Big Ambition Photography Company. Kelly runs a local studio in F...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the secrets to mastering photography lighting as we host an engaging debate between Kevin Ahronson from Hampshire School of Photography and Kelly Perrin from the Big Ambition Company. Struggling to choose between natural light and flash? Learn how Kevin transitioned from a natural light purist - to a flash enthusiast, after a remarkable encounter with a newspaper photographer. Kelly, however, champions the beauty of natural light, even in the most challenging setti...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Late...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets of creating stunning bokeh and elevate your photography game with our latest episode of Tog Talk! I'm Kevin Ahronson from the Hampshire School of Photography, and today, I'm tackling your most burning questions about photography. Prompted by David Emery's curiosity, we dive into what bokeh truly is, why it has skyrocketed in popularity in the digital age, and how it can dramatically improve the focus and quality of your images. Tune in to discover the fine ...

Send us Fan Mail Tog-Talk returns after a 12 month gap. This time, Kevin is joined by new co-host Kelly Perrin. Imagine a casual conversation between two passionate photographers, sharing tips, stories, and insights about the art of capturing images. That's Tog-Talk. Hosted by Kevin Ahronson from Hampshire School of Photography and his co-host Kelly Perrin, Tog-Talk is more than just a podcast; it's a community for photographers of all levels. From technical advice to personal experi...

Send us Fan Mail Tog-Talk Episode 29 With this week's guest David Emery In the first Tog-Talk podcast to be shot in video (Watch it on YouTube or Vimeo), Kevin Ahronson interviews David Emery, a photographer he has known for four years. David shares his journey into photography, which began with inspiration from his grandfather who had a cine camera and a 35mm camera. David got his first SLR, a Praktica, on his 14th birthday and started with film photography before transitioning into d...

Send us Fan Mail What would you compare your photography journey to? Has your growth and experience behind the camera been like a rocket or has it been more like a snail? Are you completely committed to following your creative journey - or is it a bit spasmodic? Good days and bad days? In this week's Tog-Talk, I am joined by hobbyist-photographer Sandy Borrowdale who describes her photography as sometimes being a bit like her going to the gym. Originally recorde...

Send us Fan Mail Having taken up photography just a few years ago on retirement, Alec completely threw himself into it and has a fascinating tale of rapid progress. Abandoning his Sony camera for an extensive Nikon system, Alec has had a roller coaster experience - culminating in mentoring under one of the world's greatest photographers. In this episode of Tog Talk, Alec Grant tells us about his photographer's Journey More to read at tog-talk.com Test Your Knowledge Test your photo...

Send us Fan Mail For several years I've been exploring the subject of the journey we all embark on as photographers. It really is just like a journey with a beginning and a middle, but it has no end (it goes on forever). It has all the qualities of a great adventure with highs and lows, it has pitfalls and moments of elation. And like real journeys, some elements take a long time to get anywhere and others are reached in the blink of an eye. When photographers get together...

Send us Fan Mail Five of my top tips for photographing people I've been photographing people for a long time. I started doing it almost as soon as I bought my first 35mm film camera. In my home town of Brighton (on the south coast of England) I cut my teeth on capturing ordinary people going about their daily lives down on the beach and on Brighton's busy, bohemian streets. In later years I moved into the studio and I had several years shooting weddings, families and corp...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 10 of the 10-part series looking at Photography Basics. In this final episode I take a look at the editing options for your photography. Editing is an interesting subject and people often have strong views on its pros & cons. For most of us, editing allows us to produce images which are more eye-catching. We remove unwanted objects, we balance shadows and highlights, tweak colours and adjust the final shape of the image with cropping. If you ...

Send us Fan Mail 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-m...

Send us Fan Mail 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 n...

Send us Fan Mail Why do some photos come out dark? 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. ...

Send us Fan Mail 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,...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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: AUTOProg...

Send us Fan Mail 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 si...

Send us Fan Mail 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 i...

Send us Fan Mail The Shutter Last episode we looked at the aperture, now it's the turn of the shutter. From our perspective today, we're going to look at two different types of shutter. One is mechanical and the other is electronic. Older DSLR cameras will be mechanical, but the newer, mirrorless cameras (which have effectively taken over from DSLRs) tend to offer both mechanical and electronic options. Understanding the pros and cons of both systems will help you mak...

Send us Fan Mail Of all the questions I regularly get asked, the one about cameras is usually the most common. “What camera should I buy” “What camera would you recommend for someone new to photography” “Which camera is best?” Understandably, most new photographers want to make a good decision about the money they're about to spend. The camera industry has just been through a major shake-up, as one by one, manufacturers have gradually stopped production of DSLR cameras in favour of the new...

Send us Fan Mail Joined again by Tracey Clarkson, we look at a forthcoming 10-week series for brand new photographers. These are planned to be shorter than normal Tog-Talks (around 10-15 mins) and are a basic introduction to photography, without getting too complicated. Starting next week the first episode will be looking at digital cameras. Make sure you click the follow button to ensure you don't miss a single episode. Which Lens would you Pick? The main topic for conversa...

Send us Fan Mail Having shot weddings for the last 12 years, I've kinda lost that sense of terror when I'm asked to shoot another one. But I remember my first wedding: a combined sense of wonder and an uncontrollable rush of adrenaline. Excitement and panic, all in one. When you get asked I regularly meet students who have been asked by friends or family to photograph their wedding. One the one hand it's a tremendous privilege to be asked. To think that someone lik...

Send us Fan Mail Inner Circle; the title alone suggests an exclusive group. An elite, crack-troupe of hand-picked photographers who disciple under my mentorship. The reality is far more down to earth. They are in fact a small group of amateur photographers who want something beyond what most traditional photography workshops and course can offer. They don’t want discussions about the rule of thirds or which buttons to press on their cameras. What they’r...

Send us Fan Mail Not entirely true… when I became a photographer, many of the things covered in this discussion weren’t even invented. But for today’s photographers, I know for certain these are really helpful tips because I am constantly finding myself talking to my students about them. Photography can be complex and the learning process can be very hit or miss when you’re self-taught. Obviously my students have the benefit of learning from someone who has spent years (decades) ...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 9: Photography, it’s not all about the gear… is it? I confess, I am a bit of a gear-head. Over the years I have collected lots of cameras, lenses, filters, accessories and loads and loads of lighting gear. Prior to the COVID pandemic I would upgrade my camera every time a new model come out, convinced I needed the latest technology to take the best photos. If one good thing came out of lockdown for me, it was the forced restraint on my spending. ...

Send us Fan Mail Having Matthew Williams on this episode of Tog Talk was a double whammy for me. Not only is he a keen wildlife photographer, but he's also the brains behind the Hampshire School of Photography (HSP) website. Matt talks to me about some of the innovative ideas behind our online photography assessment tool and the new Portfolio Suite for show-casing our students' work. He's also got some great stories about his experiences out in the field photographing king...

Send us Fan Mail Andy Teo ( otherwise known to many as Photocillin), is a highly talented photographer specialising in fashion style photography and, more recently, has had a great deal of success working with musicians, shooting concerts, backstage and album covers. In this edition of Tog Talk, Andy talks about his experience shooting models and musicians with some great tips for photographers who would like to get into this kind of work. I promised to post links for some go Andy's work. T...

Send us Fan Mail In this week's Tog Talk I address the subject of how to take tack-sharp photos. One of the most common complaints I hear from new camera owners is that their photos just aren't sharp enough. You'd think that when someone spends hundreds of pounds (sometimes thousands) on a high quality camera, the resulting photos would at least be nice and sharp. If only. Avoiding blurred images is not just about knowing how to focus your lens, there are lots of other things ...

Send us Fan Mail Tog Talk this week meets with Trish, a young lady from India who I've been mentoring for the last six months. She has a great sense of humour and she absolutely loved watching my reaction when she brought in two really great questions. Which type of camera would I recommend to a photographer - a crop frame mirrorless or a full frame DSLR?When planning a concept photograph, what comes first, the location or the concept? During the conversation, a couple of photos were re...

Send us Fan Mail We sponsored an evening recently with a bunch of photographers who are currently working as professionals, semi-professionals and a few others the were thinking of going pro. In 2020 we are planning to start a one-year course for professionals who want to improve both their photography skills and also their business skills. The conversations that took place were quite insightful as we listened to what was on their minds. I was surprised to hear about many of the fear...

Send us Fan Mail Agi was a student who came to me for a year's private mentoring. These days she works as a professional photographer whilst at the same time being a busy mum of three young children. She recalls how she stepped out of her comfort zone to embrace her photography and now is reaping the reward shooting families, children and weddings. Agi's website Hampshire School of Photography (HSP) Hampshire School of Photography is based in Fleet, Hampshire, on the border...

Send us Fan Mail In this session I talk to Masterclass student Jeremy Auton about what choices he should make when taking his camera and lenses overseas on holiday. How much gear should we take with us? Too much and it could become a burden to carry, too little and we could miss important shots. To make it more complicated in his case, he was going on two very different holidays which required different approaches. Hampshire School of Photography (HSP) Hampshire School of Photog...

Send us Fan Mail In this opening episode, I get to talk with one of my longest-suffering students, Steve Myers. Steve has been on just about every photography workshop I've ever run and his eagerness to learn shows no sign of diminishing. For us, this episode is an experiment with a bit of fun - enabling me in particular, to explore the process of podcast production. Beyond this, a much more expansive and sophisticated podcast series will hopefully grow. I hope you enjoy it. Hampsh...