In the Loire Valley of France I found a garden that threw inspiration at me like a shower of rose petals. The formal gardens at Chateau de Villandry are magnificent examples of how the ruling class of France combined their artistic flare and desire for fresh produce in the kitchen. It's also a world of its own for visiting photographers.

If you want to put your own creative expression into your photographs then you need to have creative control of the camera. The key to moving beyond the automatic modes and learning more about your equipment is to start with a baseline.

Normally when you get your hands on a lovely new piece of DSLR equipment it's a good idea to treat it carefully, avoid scratches and knocks, and try not to drop the unit from a height of 1.5 metres onto a concrete footpath.