Camera Trails Urban East Photography Course Review

Camera Trails have found a way to combine exploring the 'real' London and teaching photography in a fun way by offering half day guided tours led by a professional photographer around east London for their 'Urban East' course. You'll receive intensive tuition to help improve your photography skills.

See some of my Camera Trail Urban East Photos.

Camera Trails is suitable for beginner or intermediate photographers and seems like a great way for visitors, and locals too, to enjoy London in a new way.

Groups are kept small so you'll be able to ask loads of questions and, hopefully, take some excellent shots of London. Tours are well-priced and there are other areas of London available too.

Why Did I Choose This Course?

Obviously I'm in London all of the time but I still find it hard to commit to a weekly course at a set time so this appealed as it's intensive tuition combined with practical work, and walking around London. Let's be honest, that sounded perfect for me.

I'm not good at sitting still so loved the combination of exploring London, seeing sights, and instantly trying what we were taught. It felt much more beneficial as photography is a practical skill.

Which Course?

Camera Trails have a South Bank Trail and an Urban East Trail. I chose Urban East as I love the vibrancy of this part of town: historic buildings next to skyscrapers, curry houses next to hip bars and boutiques; it's really diverse. Do note, east London on a Sunday can be really busy and can feel a bit 'edgy' so if you're visiting, on vacation, or simply want to see the big sights then do choose the South Bank Trail as you'll see a large number of London landmarks.

The course is aimed at those with beginner or intermediate photography skills and it seemed like a popular choice for those still getting to grips with using a digital SLR camera. You can use a compact camera but it would be best if it has a manual setting so you can benefit from the tuition and try as you go along. Camera Trails are able to lend you a digital SLR so you can see if this is something you'd like to pursue.

Film cameras would not be suitable as you would be able to receive feedback from the teacher.

You meet your tutor at a large train station and receive a short guide for your particular camera at the start of the tour. This is exceptional service and I don't know another course with this kind of preparation. You also receive other laminated reference sheets that you refer to throughout the course and can take home too.

The lessons are short but clear and the tutor shows you example photos so you know what your aiming for. You then actually take photos and the tutor will see you individually to give advice and feedback.

Lessons are all on the trail so you stop at locations that suit each lesson. The trail is well-planned as they have thought about routes, timing, and possible shelter spots, if required. Each location inspired us to try our new skills. For example, we practiced 'depth of field' at Columbia Road Flower Market so we could take close-up photos of flowers and plants. And the timing was right as we arrived later in the day when it was getting quieter.

The only improvement we could think of was to give out a basic map of the trail to all the participants at the start, with approximate timings, in case they got lost. We all found ourselves getting carried away by the moment and wanting to take shots between stops, then remembering we didn't want to lose the group. The tutor managed very well to keep us together and certainly didn't want to stifle this creativity.

I liked the way each lesson built on what we had learned before and I honestly feel I know more about photography, and how to use my DSLR, than I did before.

The tutor's knowledge was superb (I met Jane and Laura) as they are professional photographers and experienced teachers so had wonderful patience with us and were able to balance the lessons for those in the group who needed more or less support.

We all said how helpful it was to be able to ask what we were doing wrong as it happened. When we didn't get the shot we wanted we could ask a tutor why. And that's something a camera manual can never do for you.

Booking Information

For further information and booking call 0800 033 7077 or visit www.cameratrails.com.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with a complimentary photography course for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.