Following is the information that was writen for the very successful 2012 workshop. Watch this space for the 2013 workshop program.

 

Waiheke Island Landscape / Nature Photography Workshop:  9th –13th Jan. 2012

This five-day photography workshop, based on Waiheke Island, is for anyone who want’s to take his or her Landscape/Nature photography to the next level.

Five days gives us enough time to cover subjects in depth and enough time to really practice them, so that you truly know and understand them.  There will be structured lessons, but also lots of time to learn while taking photos, with individual input from myself, as suggestions and pointers or questions answered.

Learning to use Adobe Photoshop will also be a large component of the workshop.  In this age of digital we have the potential to work our photos like never before.  Whether this is a final polishing or a complete overhaul, there are few photos that can’t be tweaked to make for a more pleasing end image.

For those who have never tried Photoshop: you will be amazed at what we can achieve with it.  For those who have dabbled in Photoshop and found the experience a tad scary: you will be pleasantly surprised to find that it doesn’t have to be so.  And for those who are already using Photoshop: you’ll be familiar with what an incredible piece of software it is.  No matter how much you know, there is still more to learn!

A landscape photography workshop is not a 9 to 5 experience.  There’s an old adage among landscape photographers that goes something like this: “First you find the good light, then you’ll find the photos”.  The most dramatic of landscapes can end up being non-events under poor light, and the most mundane of subjects can burst into life with the right light. 
Most of the time ‘good light’ means the time at either end of the day.  To be good landscape photographers we need to become crepuscular creatures! 
Since the sun will rise just after six and won’t set until just before 9, there will be times when we will be up early (5:30 am) and other times, out late (10pm).  So that we don’t end the week all totally exhausted, we’ll take time off during the heat of the day when the light is not good.

Although this is predominantly a Landscape/Nature photography workshop, other forms of photography may be touched on.  This is dependant on time and the requests received.

 

Requirements for the course:

• A digital SLR camera  (a camera that has the potential for multiple interchangeable lens, as opposed to a ‘point and shoot camera’ with one fixed lens.)

• A tripod.  If you haven’t got one and can’t borrow one, let me know (Before 19th Dec) and I’ll bring one up for you.

• A laptop with Adobe Photoshop CS5 installed.  You can down load and install for free, a 30-day trial period version.

 

Strongly advised to have:

• Remote shutter release for your camera  (You can pick up one of these, off ‘Trade Me’ for under $10.)
• Spare memory
• Spare camera battery

 

Things that you would find useful:

• A polarizing filter
• A neutral density filter