1-Day Photography Workshop: Edge of winter in the Peak District - Sat 19th November

Product Description

Background

A temperature inversion snakes it’s way up the Dove Valley towards me. This image was taken mid-November two years ago. It’s a special time in the Peak District, there’s the remnants of autumn remaining in sheltered woodlands, the air gets cold quickly when the sun goes down meaning sudden temperature drops and if it’s been raining, and the winds are low this creates mist, fog and temperature inversions. If it’s very cold there will be a frost making for great shooting in the morning. Sometimes there are storms and you can stand up high on an edge watching them pass through. It’s a brilliant time to venture into the Peak District and if you join me on a workshop then I’ll share with you many of the secrets I’ve learnt at certain locations where phenomena like this are hard to predict. It will be an exciting day out shooting woodlands, vistas and, well, anything the Peak can throw at us really. 

Introduction

Join me for a dusk till dawn day of photography on SATURDAT 22nd OCTOBER in a variety of locations in one of the UKs best national parks, especially at this time of year, focussing on woodland and all the magic that autumn brings. We’ll explore scenes like many you've seen on my social media and take you to some of the best locations we’ve shot over recent years to help you hone your skills. Much of the positive feedback I receive from clients comes after taking them into the forest, often a daunting place to photograph well. I will be on hand helping you understand how to handle complexity, find compelling subjects, simplify messy scenes and work with the light available to enhance your images. THE WORKSHOP WILL BE LIMITED TO 3 PLACES MAXIMUM.

I will provide coaching, direction and tuition on all the aspects of woodland and landscape photography you will need to get the best out of your day in the Peak District. We’ll help you understand how to approach woodland areas initially, managing that initially overwhelming feeling of complexity and mess. I will identify your natural shooting style and where your strengths are (everybody is different) and start to work with this as your foundation through the day, working progressively from finding subjects and executing a technically clean shot, then moving onto larger scenes with multiple characters and 'more going on'. Within this, I will try to help you understand the subtle elements that make woodland photography special - flow, rhythm and relationships within scenes when captured are often what makes a memorable image. Interaction is critical in great woodland images and I’ll help you explore how you see and capture this using the light available. If we are lucky, we'll have some foggy or misty conditions to work with, but contrary to popular belief this isn't the only way you can shoot woodland! As the sun changes throughout the day, I'll show you how to work with the light within the scene you are trying to capture, the woods can be brilliant at any time of the day if you know what you're looking for and working with.

Itinerary 

You will meet me and the rest of the group before sunrise (approx 6.45am) at a location in the Peak District (specific location to be decided by be nearer the day based on weather conditions forecast) where we will leave the cars and walk to our first location before dawn. If there is the forecast of a powerful sunrise we will take this chance and shoot a nearby vista before moving onto a woodland location. We will spend the morning in this area, investigating the transition from autumn to winter, I will endeavour to show you some of the lesser known and even hidden areas of woodland just a stones throw from the beaten track. I'll help you get practiced in reccying and exploring the landscape, and letting your senses collect together the elements of a scene you enjoy and wish to photograph. We will break for lunch at approx. 12noon and can talk more photography if you’d like or you can relax a little for an hour or so. After lunch we will drive to another part of the Peak and spend the remainder of the day shooting another more vistas as sunset approaches. Depending on light and conditions, we will finish the day just after sunset then I will return you to our starting location and the workshop will end at approx 5pm. 

What's included

Tuition, coaching, guidance, help and support from myself during the workshop on the day. I will take care of the planning, location selection, weather forecasting and logistics surrounding what we will shoot, how this suits the weather conditions we are presented with and how we can get the most from the groups learning objectives during the day. After meeting us at the start of the workshop at the specified location, I will transport and guide you to each location during the day, returning you to our meeting point at the end of the workshop. I will help you explore the locations I take you to, understand the photographic potential and work with you to react to the weather conditions as they unfold. I am happy to share any aspect of the knowledge and insight I have developed during the course of my work so feel free to make use of what I know throughout the course of the day. My aim is to help you get more out of your landscape photography and to really enjoy the day! If you're struggling with woodland but really get inspired by it then you're in good hands, woodland is my favourite genre so I hope I can share some of this passion with you and convert that into excellent images!

What's not included

You'll be responsible for:

- Travel to the meeting location at the beginning of the workshop and anywhere you need to get to once the workshop finishes

- Photography gear and suitable outdoor clothing. You should dress for all elements including wind and rain. Good hiking shoes are essential as are gloves (it can get cold in the Peak District). It goes without saying that a tripod is important, although we will explore handheld shooting techniques

- Any form of insurance

- Food and drink on the day. I will carry a small number of snacks and some water, and we will break for lunch and probably coffee either mid morning or mid afternoon. You will need to cover the cost of any food and drink consumed during the workshop.

How to book

Payment for your space on the workshop is made via this website, just click the BUY IT NOW button and your place is secured. There are only 3 spaces available. Once you have paid, please drop me a message (via Instagram is best) and let me know you have paid for your place. I will need your email to get in touch with you closer to the workshop (see below).

After you book

About one week before the workshop date, I will be in touch via email to ask some basic questions (what gear you have, what your learning objectives are, what you enjoy about landscape photography/woodland and why you have booked onto the workshop). This will help me get to know you all and to shape the day. You'll have the chance to ask me some questions and prepare for your day with us in the Peak District and then we'll be ready for the day! We just need to hope for some good weather conditions, although having photographed in the Peak District for many years now there are very rarely any days where it is too difficult to shoot. Often what appears to be the worst weather has often yielded my best images.

Cancellations

If I receive cancellations made up to 48 hours before the start time of the workshop you will receive 100% of your fee in return. If you cancel between 48 and 24 hours before the workshop start date/time you will receive 50% of your fee in return. No part of the fee will be returned for cancellations received less than 24 hours prior to the start of the workshop.