"You made a 200 page camera manual understandable in just one easy lesson" – For Jess and I, hearing feedback like this at the end a nine hour day makes it all worthwhile...

Our 1 day photography course in Melbourne on Saturday began exceptionally early, our earliest course we have ever – starting at 7am! Amazingly, this didn't deter any one! The sun was only just starting to peep up as people started to arrive, lucky they were greeted with a pot of seemingly never ending hot coffee. People had travelled far and wide to arrive in Melbourne for the course, one gentlemen from Hobart, another from Sydney, and others several hours drive from within Victoria. Judging by the feedback we received at the end of the day, the journey was well worth it!

The day ran smoothly – the zoo was a little busier than normal with the new arrival of the baby elephant and it was a beautiful day with temperatures up around the 30's. Luckily most of the outside practical sessions on aperture, shutter speed and the 'assignment' were all completed before what has now been dubbed as the "storm of the century". In fact, the assignment was just in the process of being judged when the storm hit, we were considering our self's very lucky sipping hot cups of coffee, looking outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, while hearing the hail pelting down like bullets on the roof of the function centre.

During the storm we picked the winners for the 'assignment', there was an exceptionally high standard of photographs to choose from and Jess and I even had problems trying to pick our favorite photo that fitted the brief. After much consideration Megan Semmens adorable photograph of a Zebra came first, Megan took home a brand new fancy Lowepro camera bag while coming a close second and taking home a Canon speedlite external flash was Simon Modra's photograph of a tiger licking his chops while pacing through the bamboo. Well done to both winners!

The crazy storm didn't dampen anyone's experience of the day, Jess and I were quite chuffed to read the awesome feedback we received, check it out below ?

"I came with no expectations and left very satisfied indeed. Learned much and it connected the dots of reading the manual. A high recommendation from me."

"Loved it, learnt a lot"

"I had a wonderful day thank you for your inspiration and help. I learnt far more than I expected to. Congratulations to you both for a informative and fun course. "

"Love it, enjoyed the day with new friends and will recommend to everyone"

"This course totally exceeded my expectations. Thanks Chris and Jess for a fun, informative day."

"Excellent hands-on instructions and group size just right. Thanks"

"Fantastic course - would recommend to anyone. What was once complex is now easily comprehended due to Chris's teachings."

"Great day. Very Worthwhile"

"Well worth the time"

"Chris and Jess Thanks you! I have grasped more today than on-line courses and tutorials. I love the small class size keeping it "non-intimidating". Bravo!"

"Great course!"