Workshops 2010
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Click on image or text for more information on each Workshop
The Gower has many different types of terrain and is blessed with some of the most spectacular coastline in the British Isles. The workshops are divided into Coastal Gower and Explore Gower to allow participants to choose which appeals to them most. Each runs for a 3 day period and can accommodate up to six people per workshop. Partners are most welcome and if they are not participating in the workshop they stay for FREE.
Our workshops are designed to appeal to photographers of all levels of ability and equipment and are aimed to allow all participants to come away from the workshops with great pictures and inspired to take your experiences back with you to develop your photography at home. The workshops are mainly designed to provide photographic opportunities for the participants and are not a full tuition workshop. Nick is always on hand to give advice if requested and willing to help beginners with more support if required.
Weather - here in Wales we are well known for our weather, so please be prepared for our most common weather, rain. Please check the What to take section for our recommendations, but whatever the weather there will always be photographic opportunities. This may mean we have to adapt the workshop to take account of the conditions, but we are sure that the resulting images will be worth it.
The workshops start with all participants getting together at the hotel on the evening of the first day (Thursday). An outline of the workshop programme and weather forecast will be discussed and then after a good nights sleep the workshop will start the next day with a full day of photography. Wherever possible we will have an early start to ensure the best light, but for those participants who would like a lie in, we all meet up back at the hotel for breakfast before setting out for the next photography session. In the evenings participants can decide if they wish to take part in group activities or do their own thing. The photography continues the next day and the workshop then ends on Sunday afternoon at about 4.00pm, giving participants time to get home.
A Typical Course Itinerary
Thursday evening:
After everybody has checked in to the hotel and had some time to settle in, we will meet at about 8.00pm. This gives us an opportunity to meet the rest of the group, introduce ourselves and discuss the coming days. I will update everybody on the weather forecast and give an outline of the weekend itinerary. This also gives me an opportunity to discuss with each participant what they would like to achieve from the workshop and ascertain their level of photographic experience. We then head to bed, ready for an early start the next day.
Friday/Saturday:
Early morning - For those who are really keen, we will get up before dawn to get into position ready for sun rise at our first location. This part is completely voluntary, so if you would like a lie in, that's ok! We then return back to the hotel for breakfast and catch up with the other members of the group
Rest of the morning - we will head back out again on location with all the group and continue making photographs. Once the ideal lighting has gone, we will start looking for images that we can make later in the day when the lighting is better.
Lunchtime - we take a break on location to enjoy our packed lunch and have a chat and rest. For those using digital cameras, we can take this opportunity to review some of our images so far and see if improvements can be made in the afternoon session.
Afternoon - we head back out again on location. By staying in the same location we can re shoot some images if we want or revisit locations that we found in the morning.
Mid Afternoon - we take another break and have a rest. Sometimes this is still on location, or if we have decided to change location we may go back to the hotel briefly.
Late afternoon/early evening - we will get ourselves positioned ready to take advantage of the evening light and sunset later on.
Late evening - once the light has gone, we will return to the hotel and take it easy and get some food and discuss the photographic day. This can be as a group or on your own if you wish to do your own thing. We then head off to bed for a good nights rest.
Sunday:
Early morning/Morning/Lunchtime - as Friday & Saturday but check out of the hotel before notified time and get all non photographic bags safely stored.
Afternoon - We will continue photographing till about 4.00pm when we will return to the hotel ready for everybody say our farewells and head home.
Photographic Techniques & Topics Discussed
- Composition and framing - the use of the rule of thirds, leading the eye through the frame, the use of foreground interest, composing for reflections
- Filters and their effects - the use of neutral density graduated filters, polarisers - how and when to use them, colour correction filters
- Exposure control - the types of metering you can use, exposing for slides and digital, using and interpreting the histogram
- Macro photography - camera angulation, depth of field, fill in flash
- Setting up your camera - focusing, exposure modes, hyperfocal distance
- Working your location - how to maximise your photographic opportunities on location, planning your location photography, use of maps and compass
- Black & White - digital and film, the zone sysytem, film development, use of filters for film
- Plus many more...