What Workshop Courses Are Available?

Courses are offered on dates throughout the year with personal tuition given on the small group workshops or you can opt for a 1-2-1 workshop. When you book a workshop we acknowledge your booking in writing and you can either book the date straight away, or in the case of the “Light & Mood” Exmoor and Dorset Coast  workshops you have 12 months in which to take up the workshop by simply calling us or checking this website to arrange a suitable date.
Alternatively you can book one of our pre arranged non-residential workshops to scenic areas of the UK, which are listed below when available, and join other like minded photographers where you can also share ideas and experiences to further improve your photography or simply enjoy time out making images without fuss or hurry.

Workshops are limited to a maximum of 4 participants (unless otherwise specified) to ensure you get personal tuition and the opportunity to get the most from the chosen locations. Most workshops last for approx. 8 hours, but the multi day ones are sometimes longer depending on the time of year.

Don will personally take guide you around a number of location through the day(s) in areas he knows well and take you to places where the light angle will be good for photography at the chosen time. We also try and avoid crowds of tourists to make your photography easier and more enjoyable.

Whilst you need to be reasonably fit to attend the workshop days there are not long walks or arduous uphill sections on most workshops, you will be advised if a particular workshop is likely to include such “exercise”.

Workshops available include;
One to One “Light & Mood” Landscape workshops – Exmoor.
Non-residential multi day workshops – 2 or 3 days 1-2-1 in scenic areas of the UK.
Steam in the landscape workshops

Course Content

Each workshop will aim to cover the fundamentals of good photography, regardless of whether landscape or steam railway. Most workshops will therefore include the following;

  • The camera – includes an overview of the functions and facilities available on your camera
  • Exposure control – including manual, aperture priority, shutter priority and ISO settings and exposure compensation and bracketing
  • Working with the light and camera metering modes
  • Focus control
  • Depth of field
  • Composition – understanding how the above all effect the final result
  • The eye of a photographer – how to see good picture opportunities
  • RAW and JPEG images
  • White balance
  • The Histogram
  • Post production options
  • Home printing

Bespoke Workshop Options

We also offer one to one workshops and photo tours to many parts of the UK, for both individuals and small groups. These tours are arranged to suit participants own requirements and wishes, and can include such locations as Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire, Lake District, Northumberland, Yorkshire Dales, Scottish Highlands or Western Isles as well as more regular Dorset coast, Exmoor and Cornwall options.
The workshops/tours will be costed to ensure we are able to meet your requirements and to include accommodation and travel costs for Don, as your tutor, and will be agreed and paid in advance. Sorry but we are unable to offer any poor weather clauses with this option due to time commitment and accommodation needing to be booked in advance. These tours can be very enjoyable and rewarding trips to make images in some of the more beautiful and remote parts of the UK. Call us to discuss this option.

Prices

“Steam in the landscape” workshop – £175.00 per day
1-2-1 Tuition day (8 hour field session) – £295.00 per day
Fixed date/location workshops – as per details on this page.

The workshops can be booked either individually or for a small group booking together a discount can be applied, please call us to discuss your requirements.

All courses/workshops can be booked on line via our secure payment facility or call us by phone on 01934 742389.

Further Details

Step By Step Booking Guide

  1. Book photo workshop either online via this website under the workshop headings below or call us to book over phone. You can book a date immediately if you wish or wait and book the actual date later.
  2. Receive written confirmation from us of your workshop booking.
  3. If the date is not already booked, call us when ready to arrange a suitable date from those we have available.
  4. This date is booked into our systems and we call you a couple of days before to ensure you are fit and well for your workshop and make final arrangements on a meeting place/time. If the weather forecast is bad you can postpone if you wish, as we would rather you enjoy a day out with your camera in reasonable weather than getting cold and wet!
  5. If booking a multi day workshop away (i.e. NOT the “Light & Mood” Exmoor or Dorset coast workshops) a deposit is all that is required to secure your place, with full payment being due 1 month ahead of the workshop. This is however non refundable.

Workshops are now only offered on a 1-2-1 basis to ensure you get personal tuition and the opportunity to get the most from the chosen locations. Most workshops last for approx. 8 hours per day.

What You Need To Bring

Your own SLR camera – film or digital but digital obviously has advantages in seeing what you have taken whilst out on the workshop.
Your lenses – wide angle is usually best for landscape work.
Any filters you have in your kit.
Tripod.
Remote release switch if you have one – if not the delayed timer can be used instead.
Suitable clothing and footwear for being out and about in the countryside/seaside.
Packed lunch if applicable.

Accommodation

Multi day courses will obviously require some overnight accommodation to be arranged and we can help you to find, or book on your behalf, a suitable bed & breakfast guest house. The cost of this is not included in the course fee and payment is the responsibility of the client. The multi day workshops to various locations away from the West Country do not include accommodation as we find that clients often prefer to make their arrangements to fit in with personal/family life.

Poor Weather Option

If you have booked a “Light & Mood” flexible days workshop session and when the date for your course arrives the weather forecast is particularly poor you can contact us to discuss the option of postponing, no charge will be made for doing this in these circumstances.
Where our pre-arranged workshops on fixed dates are concerned this option does not apply.