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The Thorn Valley Studios Journal
Welcome to the Journal, a visual diary dedicated to the art of authentic storytelling.
As photographers and preservationists, Thorn Valley Studios is driven by a deep love for the craft and the rugged beauty of the landscapes we call home.
From the untamed light of Dartmoor to the quiet, emotional thresholds of a wedding day, we live to capture the moments that matter.
This space is a collection of our work and our wisdom.
Explore behind-the-scenes features of our latest creative pursuits, discover practical photography guides to elevate your own skills, and find the inspiration to document your own history.
We’re glad you’re here. Grab a coffee, dive in, and explore our latest stories.
Why Thorn Valley Studios is Proud to Be Officially "Done by Humans"
At Thorn Valley Studios, our core belief has always been simple: human creativity is irreplaceable.
The nuance of a heartbeat, the unexpected spark of a raw emotion, and the dedication to true craftsmanship are things that machines simply cannot replicate.
That is why we are thrilled to announce that Thorn Valley Studios has officially signed up to Done by Humans (www.thisisdonebyhumans.org), an initiative dedicated to making human authorship visible in the age of auto
Behind the Lens: 10 Photography Locations in Devon You Can Reach by Public Transport
Here at Thorn Valley Studios, we absolutely love guiding photographers through Devon’s wild moorlands, ancient woodlands, and dramatic coastlines during our outdoor photography workshops.
But let’s be honest: not everyone wants to navigate Devon’s notoriously narrow, high-hedged country lanes, and finding a parking spot during peak season can be a proper headache.
The good news? You don’t need a car to experience the absolute best of the region.
From water-powered
AI vs. Manual Photo Restoration: Why Automated Tools Ruin Antique Faces
We’ve all seen the ads promising miraculous results: “Restore old family photos in one click using AI!” It sounds like magic. You upload a scratched, faded, 1920s portrait of your great-grandfather, wait three seconds, and a crisp, brightly coloured image pops out.
However, as you look closer, a strange feeling sets in. The skin looks plasticky. The teeth look a bit too perfect, almost cartoonish. Worst of all, the eyes look cold, like a stranger staring back at you.
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Learning to Photograph the Heavens: A Basic Guide to Shooting the Milky Way
Are you fascinated by the vastness and beauty of the night sky?
Do you find yourself gazing up at the stars in awe and wonder?
8 min read
Rainy day photography ideas to inspire your inner artist
Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to curl up with a cup of tea and get lost in a good book. But if you’re the type of person who prefers to make the most of every opportunity, then a rainy day can also be the perfect time to get out your camera and explore some creative photography ideas. N.B. Before you set out or set-up, make sure you've got the right equipment to protect yourself and your equipment from the elements. From photographing raindrops on leaves to experimen
16 min read
Flash Photography for Beginners: How to Use In Camera Flash and Off Camera Flash
If you’re new to photography, you’ve probably heard of “flash” but might not be entirely sure what it is or how to use it. Flash is simply a burst of light that can be used to illuminate a subject in low light situations or to add a bit of extra light to a scene. 1. Introduction There are two main types of flash In-camera flash and off camera flash. In camera flash is built into your camera and is the more convenience option. Off-camera flash requires an extra piece of equipm
4 min read
Monopod Vs. Tripod: A beginner's guide
Monopod Vs Tripod: What Every Photographer Needs To Know Tripod or Monopod? It may seem simple enough to some, but it's one of the most common things we get asked about. 1. Introduction Before we delve into the world of monopods vs tripods, let’s take a look at what each one is and what they are used for: A monopod is a single pole that is used to support a camera, camcorder, or other optical equipment. A tripod, on the other hand, is a three-legged support system that is use
6 min read
What the Bokeh? It's all in the Aperture...
What Does Bokeh Mean? Bokeh comes from the Japanese word boke (ボケ), which means "blur" or "haze", or boke-aji, the "blur quality." Bokeh is pronounced BOH-Kə or BOH-kay. Visit any photography website or forum and you’ll find plenty of folks debating the pleasing bokeh that their favourite fast lenses allow. Adjectives that describe bokeh include: smooth, incredible, superb, good, beautiful, sweet, silky, and excellent… but what exactly is it? What is Bokeh? Bokeh is defined a
3 min read
Light
The Importance of Light Light is so basic and important to photography that the word itself - “photography” - comes from the Greek word for light, which is “phos.” Light is essential to most types of life on earth, and does many other things for us such as enabling us to see colours and shapes – and without it, photography couldn’t exist! Colour Temperature The term colour temperature is a way to describe the colour of a light source, by relating it to a reference source heat
6 min read
The Three Scapes
Introduction of the Three “Scapes” A few popular locations, or “scapes” you may wish to shoot when you encounter them are: Landscape Seascape Cloudscape Setting the Scene How much of the scene is needed to convey your vision? What key elements should you include? What is distracting from your vision? What colours add to the story you're telling and which detract from it? Conveying Emotion and Intimacy Through Pictures Your focus needs to be on what's most important in the sce
13 min read
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Now that we've covered the basics, it’s a good time to look at some of the more common mistakes and pitfalls that are made in the field of photography. Once a new photographer knows what these are, they can much more easily determine how to correct or avoid them. At this point, you might have already become aware of some of these problem areas, in which case this lesson will give you the chance to refresh your memory. By observing and considering the causes and results of eac
9 min read
Understanding ISO in photography, a beginners guide...
1. What is ISO? (The Big Picture) Think of taking a photo like catching rain in a bucket. To get a perfect photo, you need just the right amount of light. Photography uses the Exposure Triangle to control this light: Aperture: How wide the camera lens opens (like opening a window wider). Shutter Speed: How long the lens stays open (like opening a window for 1 second vs. 5 seconds). ISO: How bright the final image becomes. 2. Film vs. Digital: Why You Have It Easy Back in the
3 min read
Understanding Shutter Speed - A beginner's guide...
Before we get into the details on shutter speed, first let's have a quick look at Exposure. Exposure is the amount of light that is needed to reach the camera's sensor in order for it to record a well-lit image that displays the details of the subject, as well as providing a full range of contrast and tone. In a properly exposed photograph there are no areas left in deep shadow that obscures details (underexposure) and no areas receiving so much light that details are washed
5 min read
Understanding Basic Composition
Composition is the one thing that I can't teach. You can either see it, or you can't. With that in mind, understanding the basic structure of an image can help you along the way. We've broken down some of the basic "rules" of composition. However; rules, like art, are subjective. We've broken this down into sections if you want to skip through any parts: Understanding Composition > Rule of Thirds > Horizontal Split Thirds > Off Centre Subjects > Points of Intersection > Balan
7 min read
What the f/stop? An introduction to Aperture and Depth of Field (DoF)...
Let's start at the beginning. Everyone in the photography world talks about the "Exposure Triangle". But what is aperture and how does it effect an image? A camera’s aperture setting controls the size of the opening in the lens, which then regulates the amount of light reaching the film or digital sensor. It works like the pupil in your eye - when the light level is low, it can expand to let in more light, and when there is a lot of light it can close up tight to prevent too
4 min read
A beginner's guide to the equipment and language of photography...
Welcome to our basic guide to the equipment photographers carry and the language we speak. In order to help as many people as possible, we'll start at the very beginning and break down camera types, equipment, terminology and some do's and don'ts. There is a lot of information contained here, so if you want to skip bits, you can jump straight to the following sections: Camera Types > Lenses > Tripods & Monopods > Camera Cleaning & Care > Basic Photography Terminology > Witho
12 min read
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