Commencing in April 2009 Park Cameras, working in conjunction with the ITAI, will be producing, running and assessing through examination, an in-depth photographic course designed to both raise the standard of images taken by members of the ITAI and also to provide an official photographic accreditation, falling in line with the Institute's requirement for Continued Professional Development (CPD) of its members. In addition, through our partnership with Nikon UK, we are also able to ensure that a certain ‘status’ is given to this accreditation, providing ITAI members with the knowledge and security that their photographic results will stand up to examination at a future date. In order to ensure that delegates meet these required standards we have worked closely with key members of the ITAI and our colleagues at Nikon in order to produce a course that will focus on the following key areas:

Exposure Modes – Program, aperture priority and manual for daytime and night shooting Focusing – Manual focus point selection vs. automatic ISO/film speed selection and exposure compensation – Auto ISO – how this is used and the associated benefits Understanding lens focal lengths / magnification / crop factors and how these factors can affect perspective Composition – Recommended 16 shot principle for recording vehicle damage Flash photography – Relevant techniques to using flash on and off camera Macro photography – techniques used for recording detail such as abrasions, bulb filaments and other small objects Forensic techniques – Techniques to aid in recording evidence (use of finger print powder to enhance abrasion marks / evidence of damage) Night photography – how to ensure correct exposure in low light and compensating for colour casts under sodium lighting Audit trails – how to ensure authenticity of images Work flow – How to implement an efficient and secure workflow (in terms of authenticity)

Utilising a combination of classroom and studio learning at our showroom in Burgess Hill as well as additional practical fieldwork, we firmly believe that our dedicated ITAI course will result in members being armed with the photographic knowledge and ability to produce accurate images that will support them in their job. It is our intention to run courses at regular intervals throughout 2009 to ensure that all ITAI members are able to benefit from attending. Priced at £235.00 (+ VAT) we believe that our course not only offers unrivalled value for money but, more importantly, the chance for ITAI members to fulfill their CPD requirements in the best possible way. More information will be posted on these pages shortly but in the meantime please feel free to contact us on 01444 23 70 70 and ask to be put through to our Training Manager, Anthony Sinfield, or alternatively contact us on training@parkcameras.com.

Photographic Course for Forensic & Collision Investigators – NEW!

Park Cameras, in conjunction with the ITAI and Nikon, have the following dates in place for the Photographic Course for Forensic & Collision Investigators. To book your place, pleae call 01444 23 70 70, or visit our dedicated ITAI Page, and add the selected dates to your basket. These are as follows:

	Day 1: Monday 4th of October 2010 (Classroom based) Day 2: Friday 22nd of October 2010 (Practical based) Day 3: Monday 8th of November 2010 (Classroom based & Practical)
	Day 1: Monday 15th of November 2010 (Classroom based) Day 2: Friday 3rd of December 2010 (Practical based) Day 3: Monday 20th of December 2010 (Classroom based & Practical)
	Day 1: Monday 17th of January 2011 (Classroom based) Day 2: Friday 4th of February 2011 (Practical based) Day 3: Monday 14th of February 2011 (Classroom & Practical)

Q1.What format does the course take, i.e. how many days does the course take, what is covered

• Each course is run over a six week period with three face-to-face sessions and incorporates photographic theory, practical scenarios and an examination, taken at Park Cameras in Burgess Hill.

Q2. Is there any additional coursework required other than attending the three sessions?

• Apart from the face-to-face sessions, course delegates will also be expected to complete a number of assignments associated with what they have learnt. This format uses the online portal Moodle as a centre point for all associated information as well as submitting assignment papers and receiving the appropriate feedback. In total there are six assignments to complete which will be marked by the course tutor who is also available for support across the six week period. There is also a exam for delegates to undertake at the end of the course, the results when added to marks awarded from the assignments will result in delegates receiving a Nikon endorsed pass certificate.

Q3. Is all equipment provided throughout the course.

• For the duration of the course, delegates will be provided with a Nikon D5000 18-55 VR Kit for use on the course and also to assist in completing the various assignments. The D5000 has been specifically chosen for use on the course for the following reasons.
• 170° Rotating LCD screen, ideal for low level shooting
• Live View mode for use when the camera is tripod mounted
• HD (720 ) Video recording capability (using the AVI recording format for maximum compatibility)
• Auto ISO / 6400 ISO capability for class leading performance in low / might time recording
• Ease of use and easily configured for CI use

Delegates having attended the course have all commented that the D5000 is the perfect choice for Collision Investigation use and many forces have gone on to purchase the D5000 for CI use.

Q4. Can accommodation be recommended for delegates who have travelled a distance?

• Whilst we do not have a direct link, a Travelodge can be found in Hickstead - http://www.travelodge.co.uk/ - itself less than five miles away from Park Cameras in Burgess Hill. Please note that the second of the three face-to-face sessions is actually based in Shoreham and is an evening event, allowing us to recreate incident scenes and also to incorporate nighttime photography. Again, Travelodges can be found in both Brighton and Worthing, less than 10 miles from the location.

Q5. What is the availability of the courses in January, February and March., i.e. how many places does each course take and how many places are left.

• Places are available for all course dates listed for next year, we are able to accommodate a maximum of 15 on each course although 10 tends to be a more manageable number

Q6. Can places be provisionally booked. If so are deposits required.

• Places can indeed be provisionally booked, no deposit is required although a provisional order would be required

Q7. Can training be delivered at an alternate location?

• Yes we are able to deliver training at an alternate location, this has previously been arranged for Avon & Somerset Collision Investigation departments , please contact our training manger Anthony Sinfield for further details

ITAI Course Feedback

• An essential course for collision investigators. Covers night time photography in great detail and gives essential skills to take good photographs at night.

• Photography is the one aspect of our work that personally do not get any training on and the use the camera is one of the most powerful tools we use. Every Collision Investigator should get this training and will greatly improve their day to day working and raise the standard of evidence given to the courts. It will also help spot the occasions when others using photographs to show misleading images in their work.

• The course is totally suitable and it has been expertly written and beneficial and relevant to my day job. The White Balance was a revelation and has already made a practical benefit to my evidential products. It has also given me an understanding on how my images can distort the visual perception and will help me take evidential images and understand why they are right.

• The course has given me the ability to gather evidence to a better quality and higher standard.

• Having attended the course I’m now confident of photographically capturing any evidential view no matter what the conditions. I would have no doubt in recommending this course to any CI, time and money well spent. The course has given me the ability to gather evidence to a better quality and higher standard.

• The course was very relative to my job as an engineer/ assessor/ collision investigation.

• Although the course was aimed at a higher standard than my novice experience it was not beyond my grasp and I will certainly be able to improve the quality of work within my day job and inform colleagues of the need for a company workflow and the laws governing photographing in public places.

• This course has been a very enjoyable and relevant course to my work. In some respects, I have revisited some facets, which is a good thing and I have learnt a lot of new knowledge.

• The course has been very relevant, mainly covering the use of panoramic photography.

• The course content was exactly as described and expected and was definitely relevant to my day to day work.

• Most useful course I have attended in all my years as a collision investigator.

• The course was thoroughly helpful to my day to day job, this applies to both hands on sessions , understanding the camera and also integrity of images and best practice.

• The course was very relevant to our work and it was very helpful to have a photo export and and a collision investigator providing input so that it was reality based.

• The course was extremely useful to me, never having used a DSLR before I know feel more confident in using the camera.

• The course was very useful and relevant.

• Being an attached collision investigator, I found the low light / night work and the 33mm focal length invaluable for work.

• Just a short note to thank you for the course. I found it extremely interesting and informative.

• A big thank you for the course, one of the best I've been on for CIU purposes.

• White Balance – the preset procedure for WB has changed all my night time photographs, a revelation.

• The information regarding the issue of white balance and how to correct it was a revelation to me.

• Anthony is a very calm and patient tutor, I think these personal qualities backed up the material being taught & made it easy to create an ideal learning environment.

• The subjects of white balance, night shooting and the use of macro lenses for detailed close up is invaluable for my job as a vehicle examiner.