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This seminar, developed and taught by Chris Weston, one of the UK ’s most respected wildlife photographers and expert tutor, focuses on the most-requested, most-important digital camera techniques for photographers.

Passing on the latest, hottest techniques of today’s pro photographers, over the course of the day, he covers everything from selecting the best camera settings to exposing the secrets of getting perfect exposures and pin-sharp images. You’ll learn how to select the right lenses, master colour, get rid of noise and artifacts, and turn what you see into perfect prints.

Here's what you'll learn in this absolutely packed-full day of training:

Chris’s six-point system for DSLR photography
9:30 – 10:00AM
With hundreds of buttons, dials and switches, modern cameras can seem daunting to even seasoned users. In this session, Chris exposes the six things you need to learn about DLSR cameras that will free you to take the pictures you imagine.

Camera controls and settings
10:00 – 11:00AM
Learn the truth about the JPEG vs. RAW debate and get to grips with when and how to use all those confusing menu settings.

Refreshment break
11:00 – 11:15AM

Getting rid of noise and artifacts for great image quality
11:15 – 12:00PM
Noise and other artifacts can ruin digital photos. Learn how to use ISO and menu settings to minimize noise and bring out the finest details.

Making colours look natural
12:00 – 1:00PM
Get rid of unsightly colour casts and make colours glow. Learn how to make colours look natural in any type of light and how to enhance natural colours for brilliant-looking prints.

Lunch
1:00 – 2:00PM

Perfect exposures
2:00 – 3:30PM
Get to grips with your camera’s metering and exposure modes and learn the pro’s secret to getting exposure right every time – simply and easily.

Refreshment break
3:30 – 3:45PM

Getting pin-sharp images – even when your subject is moving
3:45 – 4:30PM
Get the most from your lenses and learn how to set auto-focus to capture pin-sharp images of moving subjects Plus, master the art of focusing for foreground-to-background detail.

How to make your photos look the same as what you see
4:30 – 5:00PM
How many times have you been disappointed when the printed image looks nothing like the scene you saw? Our simple composition guides will put an end to your frustration.

Managing your images
5:00 – 5:30PM
Discover the pro’s secrets to managing, storing, backing-up and retrieving those thousands of images on your computer.

Q&A
5:30 – 6:00PM
Your chance to ask the expert anything you want to know .

Close
6:00PM

Course details

• Date: 20th March, 2010
• Location: Holiday Inn, Oxford
• Price: £75.00 per person (£65.00 with Grays of Westminster voucher)
• Course tutor: Chris Weston
  

Spend over £100 at Grays of Westminster and receive a £10 discount voucher off the price of any of Chris Weston's seminars. Alternatively, you can call me, Gillian Greenwood, on +44 (0)207 828 4925 between 2.00 p.m. and 5.30pm, to find out how you can receive a £25 discount voucher if you are a Nikon Owner subscriber.

With best wishes

Gillian Greenwood
Features Editor, Events and Training Coordinator
Nikon Owner Magazine
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I thought I would provide a photo diary of the House of Lords photographic shoot organised by Grays of Westminster with Mike Maloney OBE and Nikon, on Saturday 13th of February 2010.

I would like to echo Karen's comments from her post a few days ago:

What a brilliant day at the House Of Lords. It was like stepping through time. Thank you to Gray, Gillian, Mike Maloney, Mike and all who made it possible for such a great day. Felt very special to be a part of the first group to be allowed in to photograph. Famous press photographer Mike Maloney OBE made us laugh and we could of listened to his amazing stories for a long long time. It was good to meet up with members old and new and a big congratulations to the winners. Another grand day out we will never forget. best wishes Karen.












The attendees submitted three of their favourite photographs and the judges, led by Mike Maloney, retired to choose the winners.

Later in the evening, we proceeded to a 3-course dinner at Elena's Etoile Restaurant in Charlotte Street, in a room adorned with celebrity-signed photographs.

After dinner there was a presentation of the winning images and awards, which included a Nikon D300s for the winner, kindly donated by Nikon UK.

The winners displayed originality and visualised a unique perspective, which made their images stand out from the rest. Here are the winning shots:






Congratulations to the winners, thank you to everyone for attending and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Best regards + many thanks,

Mike Eleftheriades
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Grays of Westminster celebrates its 25^th Anniversary this year. In the last twenty-five years, Grays of Westminster has become an international icon of all that is excellent in the way of bespoke service for Nikon enthusiasts and professionals alike, and it is as much for its service to its customers as for the variety and quality of its Nikon products that Grays of Westminster is renowned.

As a celebration of this very special year, there will be a number of items of Nikon kit and exciting Nikon special offers that we are pleased to be able to provide for our customers over the months ahead.

This week, while stocks last, we are delighted to be able to offer our UK and Republic of Ireland customers, with their purchase of a Nikon D3S, the following vouchers:



D3S

	Nikkor Micro 60mm f2.8G £40 Voucher
	Nikkor Micro 105mm VR f2.8G £40 Voucher
	14-24mm f2.8G AF-S £50 Voucher
	WT-4B W-LAN Adapter £70 Voucher
	COOLPIX S640 £50 Voucher

Alternatively, with their purchase of a D300s:

 D300S

	10-24mm f3.5-4.5G AF-S DX £75 Voucher
	16-85mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX £50 Voucher
	Nikkor Micro 85mm VR f3.5G £50 Voucher
	70-300mm f4.5-5.6G AF-S VR IF-ED £50 Voucher
	MB-D10 £50 Voucher

Second-hand Department
Whatever your photographic needs, as a uniquely Nikon-only shop, Grays of Westminster is the perfect destination. Now, as well as a full range of bodies and accessories, we are pleased to announce that we have a number of Mint and Mint Minus second-hand items in our Second-hand Department, to including a D3s, D3, D300, a D700 and some spectacular lenses including a 70-200mm f/2.8G VR, 200-400mm VR f/4G VR IF-ED and a Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8 DX; we have also sourced the much sought-after 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 G AFS VR DX, and much, much more!!

Three-year warranty
A three-year warranty is available to Grays of Westminster customers who are also Nikon Owner subscribers for any new Nikon purchases made at Grays. Whether your new purchase is a camera, a lens or an accessory, Grays offer an additional complimentary period of warranty on top of the one offered by Nikon to make it up to a total period of three years, and an 18-month warranty on any second-hand kit.

(Please note that VAT is included in all of our prices for new equipment)

Contact details
For further enquiries please call 020 7828 4925 or for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925 to speak to any of our staff; alternatively, go onto our website www.graysofwestminster.com

If you need anything at all, please k now that we are here to help you, and stay in touch by telephone or by viewing our website to find out about our special offers as they occur during our Silver Anniversary Year.

Kindest regards

Gillian Greenwood
For Grays of Westminster

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RRP: £5099.99
Sales start date: OUT NOW


Nikon UK today announces a new super telephoto lens, the AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/2.8G ED VR II. The new telephoto lens features the new generation of Vibration Reduction technology (VR II) and a new A/M focus mode, making it an ideal choice for serious sports, action and wildlife photographers.

Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager Lenses, Accessories and Software, Nikon Europe says: "The new lens's comparatively light weight and compact dimensions make it a perfect choice for hand held super telephoto photography, particularly when used with a teleconverter. The new VRII system allows photographers to shoot pin sharp images at shutter speeds up to four stops slower than normally required, making this a practical solution for the news and wildlife photographer".

The evolution of the AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/2.8G ED VR II NIKKOR lens reflects a commitment to developing a range of products tailored to photographers' needs, and strengthens the line-up of high-performance NIKKOR lenses.

Sharper action images
The AF-S NIKKOR 300MM F/2.8G ED VR II features second generation built-in Vibration Reduction (VRII), providing the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops slower so sharper images can be achieved when using the camera for hand-held shooting. In addition, the new A/M mode added to existing M/A and M modes enables autofocus priority even if the focus ring is being handled during shooting. Weighing in at 2,900g this is a lens that ticks every box for those who are serious about action photography.

Built for any environment
This super telephoto lens is designed with the photographer in mind and has the same excellent optical system as its predecessor. Those who need extreme speed and quiet to capture wildlife, can rely on the autofocus with a built-in silent wave motor to ensure you won't disrupt the action. To top off the extensive features, this lens is also sealed to withstand the affects of dust and moisture, allowing photographers to keep shooting whatever the conditions. Finally, the lens construction features eleven elements in eight groups, including three ED glass elements and Nano Crystal Coat.

Specifications

Focal length	300mm
Max/min aperture	Min f/22 Max f/2.8
Lens construction	11 elements in 8 groups
Picture angle	8◦10'
No. diaphragm blades	9 (rounded)
Closest focusing distance	2.3m/7.5ft. (AF); 2.2m/7.2ft. (MF)
Filter/attachment size	52mm
Diameter x length	Approx. 124 x 267.5 mm/ 4.9 x 10.5 in.
Weight	2,900g

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RRP: £449.99
Sales start date: OUT NOW


Nikon UK is launching the new AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III, the world's first teleconverter with an aspherical lens element. With a completely new optical design, the compact new teleconverter offers class leading image quality for wildlife and sports photography.

Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager for Lenses, Accessories and Software, Nikon Europe says: "The ground breaking optics in the new AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III allow photographers to extend the reach of their NIKKOR telephoto lens with the confidence that there will be no comprises on image quality."

World's first teleconverter with aspherical lens element
The AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III is the world's first teleconverter with an aspherical lens element, which delivers brilliant image quality in a compact package. Completely compatible with the latest VR, autofocus and metering coupling systems, the AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III is a 'must have' addition to any sports or wildlife photographer's kit.

Built for professional demands
The new AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III is designed to provide a seamless fit with the NIKKOR range of compatible telephoto lenses, and features rubber seals for body mount, tough release mechanism for intensive use and an oversized button for fast removal with gloved hands. It comes with newly designed caps and a practical storage pouch to protect it when not in use.

About teleconverters
Teleconverters are attached between the camera body and telephoto lens to multiply focal length without affecting closest focusing distance. This magnification factor comes at the cost of reduced light transmission which reduces the effective minimum aperture of the lens in use. The AF-S TELECONVERTER TC-20E III reduces aperture by two stops. So when attached to an f/2 aperture lens (such as the AF-S VR 200mm f/2G) the minimum aperture becomes f/4.

Specifications

Max/min aperture	Reduces by 2 stops
Lens construction	7 elements in 5 groups (one Aspherical lens)
Closest focusing distance	Same as that of a prime lens
Maximum reproduction ratio	Double that of a prime lens
Supplied accessories	Teleconverter Cap BF-3A, Rear Lens Cap LF-1, Flexible Lens Pouch CL-0715
Diameter x length	Approx. 66 x 46mm/2.6 x 1.8 in.
Weight	Approx. 330g/11.6 0z

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This is a unique opportunity to photograph inside the House of Lords with Britain’s highest decorated press photographer, Mike Maloney OBE.



Mike Maloney has won over 100 major photographic awards and in 2005 became the first “Fleet Street” photographer to have been awarded the OBE for services to photo-journalism. Three times voted Press Photographer of the year, he was Chief Photographer for the Mirror Group Newspapers before turning freelance in 2002. He also has numerous Royal tours to his credit, as well as photographing world leaders such as Clinton, Reagan, Gorbachev and Yeltsin, with resulting invitations to dine at both The White House and the Kremlin.

Workshop Schedule:

Cost including dinner: £245.00 (£195.00 for subscribers to Nikon Owner)

How to Book Your Place at the House of Lords Photographic Workshop:

To reserve a place at the House of Lords Photographic Workshop, please call 020 7828 4925 and ask to speak to me, Gillian Greenwood, between 2.00 p.m.– 5.30 p.m, or for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925. Please note that there are only a limited number of tickets available.

Subscribing to the Nikon Owner group allows you to receive a £50 discount off this workshop, a discount off other photographic training sessions and courses, a three-year warranty available on your new Nikon Purchases from Grays of Westminster, use of a comprehensive technical helpline and the interactive website, as well as the prestigious quarterly Nikon Owner Magazine. The price of an annual subscription to the Nikon Owner group is £59.00.

With best wishes

Gillian Greenwood

Features Editor/ Events’ Coordinator
Nikon Owner Magazine

*Elena’s L’Etoile’s glamorous French Bistro, walls adorned with celebrity-signed photographs and Art Deco lighting; a unique environment in a classical French style.

For a number of years, Grays of Westminster has presented and hosted a number of comprehensive photographic seminars, workshops, tutorials and events covering a wide variety of subject matter including wildlife and natural history, flash, general photographic technique, portrait, macro and many more.

Following the success of Simon Stafford's recent flash seminar, we are delighted to announce our next photographic training session which will cover the different aspects of general photographic technique. It will be held in central London, at Fitzroy House, 37 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 6DX on Saturday afternoon, March 6th, 2010.


The seminar will be presented as before by Simon Stafford, technical director of Nikon Owner magazine and respected author of many Nikon books, and will take place from 2.00 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. It will be limited to a maximum of 19 delegates in order that each attendee will be able to benefit more fully from the tuition. The cost of the session will be £145 with a special price of £95 if you are a current Nikon Owner subscriber. To book, please call only between 2.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday on either 0207 828 8971 or 020 7828 4925 or for International calls telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925, and ask to speak to me, Gillian Greenwood; alternatively send an email with your full name, daytime landline and mobile telephone number to:

gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.co.uk


General Photographic Techniques



Part one: Camera skills

• Understanding f/numbers & shutter speeds
• Learn how to optimise white balance and ISO
• Mastering camera menu settings
• JPEG versus RAW: the pros and cons of both
• How to achieve accurate exposures
• Understand how your camera’s metering system works
• Learn the benefits of digital histograms
• Improve your focus techniques with AF and manual focus

Part two: Shooting skills

• Learn good camera handling
• Camera support systems, tripods, monopods, and alternatives
• Understanding and using depth-of-field
• Choosing and using filters
• Imaginative use of shutter speed
• Creative use of white balance

Part three: Beyond the camera

• Planning and visualising the picture
• Techniques of composition
• Transporting photographic equipment
• Tips for location shooting

Please note: there will be ample opportunity to ask questions throughout the event.

About Simon Stafford
Simon Stafford is considered by many to be one of the foremost technical Nikon experts in the UK . With over twenty-five years of experience using the Nikon system, he brings his considerable expertise to bear both as technical editor for Nikon Owner, and as author of a number of comprehensive books on the Nikon system, including his best-seller series of Magic Lantern Guides on the Nikon D70s/D70, the Nikon D80, the Nikon D40, D40X, D50, D60, D200, D300, D700, D90, D3. The series includes a Magic Lantern Guide on the Nikon AF Speedlights & Creative Lighting System, and he is currently working on a fully updated, second edition to include the latest Nikon SB-900.

Special Nikon Owner discount off the price of the course
Enrolling on this course as a current Nikon Owner subscriber will allow you the benefit of a discount of £50 off the normal price of £145 for the session.

About Nikon Owner
Nikon Owner is a worldwide users’ group initially founded with the purpose of assisting Nikon owners to make full use of the Nikon equipment they own, to give advice on a wide spectrum of photographic queries and problems, and at the same time to offer ideas to bring about an increase in photographic skills. As a subscriber to this group, you will receive an array of offers and assistance, which includes:

Nikon Owner Magazine

Three-year warranty
A three-year warranty is available to Nikon Owner subscribers only for any new Nikon purchases made at Grays of Westminster. An eighteen-month warranty has just now also been made available for Nikon Owner subscribers purchasing second-hand kit from Grays of Westminster’s superb second-hand department.

Technical Helpline
Full use of our Technical Helpline, which is run expertly by Simon Stafford. There is an encyclopaedic list of Q&A’s on the Nikon Owner website, or subscribers can email him directly with any photographic queries, no matter how small or large.

Interactive website
Interactive subscribers' only website: subscribers' message board, subscribers' gallery (post your own images), press releases, technical equipment reviews, subscriber events, etc, etc.

Discounts off courses
Subscription to Nikon Owner also provides discounts off a range of other photographic courses, including the annual Heather Angel Wildlife and Natural History Workshop, and 10% off all courses at Nikon UK .

Discounts off Think Tank photographic bags
Nikon Owner subscribers also receive a 10% discount off Think Tank photographic bags if purchased at Grays of Westminster.

Events
Special events are regularly organized for Nikon Owner subscribers.

Please email gillian.greenwood@graysofwestminster.co.uk with your name, daytime landline and mobile telephone number if you are interested in enrolling in Nikon Owner or call me after 2.00 p.m. Monday to Friday on either 0207 828 8971 or 020 7828 4925; alternatively, for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925. The cost of an annual subscription to Nikon Owner is £59.

If you were unable to enrol on the recent flash seminar, do email me your full details and daytime phone numbers, and I will contact you when we have organised an additional seminar on this subject.


With best wishes,
Gillian ( Greenwood )
Features Editor, Events’ Coordinator