LANDSCAPE Photography FUNDAMENTALS WORKSHOP
Landscapes are perennially popular subjects for photographers. However, capturing a really good landscape image is challenging. Everyone can photograph the landscape … but what makes a striking landscape photograph? How much is down to planning and how much is serendipity? Why and how does a superb photograph stand out from the rest?
This one day course covers the techniques and perception required to take landscape photographs that have impact. Throughout the course we will be concentrating on the what, why and how of landscape photography. We will look at composition, focal length and focus, use of light, colour and monochrome. Examples from throughout Britain will be shown to illustrate the ingredients that can make a potentially good photograph into a memorable image.
The course will provide a comprehensive introduction to landscape photography and all the technical details needed to photograph terrestrial landscapes with a digital SLR camera, mirrorless camera or bridge camera. Subjects covered in depth are:
The nature of landscape
Finding and selecting subjects
Elements of composition
“Rules” of composition and when to break them
The use of different focal length lenses from wide angle to telephoto
Focus and depth of field, including focus stacking
Colour in the landscape and how it works in photography
Monochrome: when less can be more
Use of light – finding the right light for the subject
Shooting at sunrise and sunset
Capturing high contrast subjects using High Dynamic Range processing
After the indoor sessions, there will be a field visit to a nearby downland location where we can put into practice what we have learned. Guidance will be given on location, composition and exposure in the field to enable you to get the best out of a delightful landscape.
To get the most out of the course students should already understand the basics of exposure, shutter speed, aperture and ISO; and be comfortable handling their cameras using aperture/shutter priority or fully manual mode.
Recommended Photographic Equipment: digital single lens reflex camera, mirrorless camera or equivalent, wide angle lens (16mm on full frame or 10mm on cropped sensor), standard zoom lens and short to medium telephoto lens (70-300mm would be ideal), sturdy tripod (essential), hiking shoes/boots and waterproof clothes.
Your tutor Robert Harvey is the author of Britain’s Best Landscapes and How to Photograph Them, which accompanies this course.
Venue: The Castle Hotel, New Park Street, Devizes, Wiltshire SN10 1DS
Indoor session: 10am to 5pm with a break for lunch. Outdoor field trip: 5pm to 7.30pm.
Included: Tuition, lunch, refreshments. Not included: transport to Castle Hotel, parking, transport to field location.
Group size: Maximum of six participants.
Date: 9 April 2025.
One day workshop, cost: RPS Landscape Group Member £115, RPS Member £120, RPS Non-Member £125.
I run this zoom workshop in association with The Royal Photographic Society and bookings can be made on their website.
“Thank you for a quite outstanding day’s tutelage today, it was so informative, useful and interesting. So, you will not be surprised that I have now enrolled on the advanced course. Astro is likely to follow in due course. Your tours do look interesting and so will look at those closely”
“ I just wanted to also say how much I enjoyed the course and not for one minute during the day did my mind wander. It was such a good day and full of practical and technical information. As you know, I am a beginner. We have been studying landscape photography on my Level 1 course at the moment so I was much more inspired with my composition armed with your advice and my leading lines now actually lead somewhere!”
“Thank you for a truly fascinating, informative and engaging workshop today. I learned more than I bargained for and have a lot to process. I have attended many workshops in my time and I found yours to be one of the clearest and well presented . The way that you engage the participants in the process is a really effective way of improving the learning experience ... I will definitely want to join your masterclass workshop at some time in the future, once I have processed and practice the approaches and techniques that I learnt today”
“Many, many thanks for today. It really was a game-changing class and I felt like I was sitting at the feet of a master. Really inspirational stuff. I was already booked on the Master Class, have joined your mailing list, applied to join the FB group and will order the book as soon as I get the introductory offer email.... Will be trying panoramas, focus stacking, planning light and location, AEBs, and your various tips on composition and lighting. Huge thanks once again for a truly great workshop.”
“I did so enjoy your Landscape Fundamentals course! I learnt a huge amount and it has given me so much to think about and observe when planning and then taking a landscape photograph. The course has really has transformed my approach and I am enjoying being able to take things forward with much more confidence. I have certainly made ‘better friends’ with my wide angle lens- at last! All this of being learnt whilst being spellbound by your wonderful pictures! I also really enjoyed learning the ‘science behind’ things- from snippets of geology, geography and physics (and also a spot of history and botany thrown it!) I find it helps so much to be able to remember things and also to work things out if one has in mind some essential ‘basic principles.’ A much needed refresher for my rather rusty (and scanty!) knowledge. So thank you very much indeed for a hugely informative and enjoyable course! I was unable to obtain a place on your Landscape Masterclass series next week- so will keep a look-out for when you might run it again. Hopefully I will be able to get on it then!”
“Thank you, Robert. I found yesterday’s course very interesting and informative. I have come away inspired to look at things in a different, more critical (appraising way) and to put some of my new knowledge into practice. It’s interesting to see how much we do almost intuitively, but when you think about the “science” it takes the results to another level.”
“Thank you for your very informative course today, which I found of immense benefit. Thank you for sending out the notes, which I have saved for future reference. I am keen to attend several of your Photography Tours and have completed the relevant forms on your website. I have also ordered a copy of ‘Britain’s Best Landscapes’ and ‘Photographing Wiltshire’.”