A digital photography workshop is coming to Manchester’s Central Library for one day only – here’s why anyone who’s camera-sharp won’t want to miss it.

The days of the dark room – with its vinegar-smelling chemicals and rectangles gently blackening in a hellish red light – have all but passed. When it comes to photography, as with recording, publishing and criticism, we have one foot firmly in the digital age; some film fanatics are staying loyal to the real stuff, but even they will admit how expensive it is. So, progress isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does change the nature of the art form. Photography, for instance, has become much more about Photoshop nous and what happens after the shot is taken. I have seen an image of a woman dancing wearing a skirt shaped from a splash of milk – or friends’ photographs change colour completely after a few clicks. With something as simple as an app you can add filters to camera phone snaps – sparking off tribal arguments on the relative merits of Mayfair versus Sierra. But if you’re serious about photography as more than yet another social media platform, Red Eye’s Photography Workshop on should be right up your street.

Photography has become about Photoshop nous and what happens after the shot is taken

Held at Manchester’s Central Library as part of the Library Live programme, Digital Photography: The State of the Art brings together experts in the field to talk about the latest imaging, software and workflow techniques. Among them are Martin Evening, one of Europe’s leading voices on Photoshop, Glyn Dewis, a national and international digital photography podcaster, and artist Dan Dubowitz, who, along with Alan Ward, was behind the photographic project Citizen Manchester currently at Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery. Between them, they’ll tackle the best ways of honing photographic work both in print and on screen – how, essentially, to leave Instagramming hipsters in the dust. Digital Photography: The State of the Art takes place on 20 June, 10am-5pm. Book your tickets here.