LANDSCAPE Photography MASTERCLASS
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 two day masterclass covers the techniques and perception required to take your landscape photographs to the next level. Concepts explored in detail throughout the course will be thinking creatively, vision, planning ahead, making the most of opportunities and developing your photographic style. The course is interactive and your participation with questions, comments and opinions is encouraged.
During the course we will cover:
What do we mean by photographic vision and style?
Weather: Sunshine, cloud, mist, frost, snow and rain all present opportunities and challenges. What subjects work best in what conditions?
Seasons: How can we bring seasonal influences to the fore and add that extra ingredient to our pictures?
Photographing Water: Whether still or flowing, water is a dynamic element in the landscape. We will discuss the effect of weather, time of day, shutter speed and filters to capture movement and reflections.
Photographing the Coast: Our coast is the spectacular wild edge of Britain. How can we optimise the use of light and tides to fulfil the tremendous photographic potential of beaches, cliffs, sea stacks, lighthouses, castles and storms?
Photographing Deserts: For photographers able to travel overseas, deserts represent landscapes in the raw. How can we make the most of exquisite light to capture their patterns?
Impact and Narrative: Some of the most compelling pictures capture a moment or tell a story.
The course will conclude with an exercise on “The Point of Return”, in which participants will be invited to look at landscape photographs and suggest how different lighting, seasonal or weather conditions could maximise the potential of the composition. The tutor will then show a second image of each scene demonstrating his approach to creating a better image.
In between the two half-day sessions, students will be invited to use what they have learnt to take photographs that convey seasonal and/or weather elements of the landscape and send them in for discussion by the tutor at the beginning of the second session.
Your tutor Robert Harvey is the author of Britain’s Best Landscapes and How to Photograph Them.
Group size: Maximum of 8 participants.
Dates: 1 and 15 October 2024, 1pm to 6pm each day.
Two day workshop, cost: RPS Member £90.00, RPS Non-Member £120.00
I run this zoom workshop in association with The Royal Photographic Society and bookings can be made on their website.
Britain's Best Landscapes and How To Photograph Them
by Robert Harvey BA ARPS EFIAP CEnv CSci MCIWEM
Published June 2021
Anyone can photograph the landscape … but what makes a striking landscape photograph? Why and how does a superb photograph stand out from the rest?
This book explains the fundamentals of accomplished landscape photography, along with the techniques and perception required to take your images to the next level. It covers everything from equipment, composition and light to making the most of seasons and the weather. There is a wealth of guidance on topics such as photographing lakes, waterfalls, the coast, tides, waves and storms. You will find inspiration to help you plan ahead and think creatively, make the most of opportunities and develop your photographic style. How can you make your pictures more compelling, capture a moment or tell a story?
The second part of the book gives you all the information needed to photograph 100 outstanding locations throughout Britain. From the southern tip of Cornwall to the northernmost Shetland island, taking in all 15 National Parks, stunning coastlines and the most spectacular historic sites, they encompass the magnificent variety of Britain’s rural landscapes. For each location, there is comprehensive information on viewpoints, directions, maps, co-ordinates and where to park, together with the best times of day and year.
Robert says “My philosophy is that as a landscape photographer, I strive to show the world as I see it. Careful composition, good timing, seasons and light provide the creative elements of my photography.”
In his Foreword to the book, Dr Richard Ellis ARPS, Chair of the Royal Photographic Society Landscape Group writes: “Robert takes us across the regions with a set of stunning images. He is equally at home on the coast, up in the hills or out on the moors ... This is a really comprehensive book for the landscape photographer and I am very happy to recommend it.”
An independent review in Outdoor Photography magazine (September 2021) states "If you are after a comprehensive guide to shooting the UK landscape, look no further: Wiltshire-based pro Robert Harvey's book covers the nuts and bolts, as well as showing where to head to capture amazing images ... Illustrated with Harvey's excellent pictures, Britain's Best Landscapes is full of ideas and inspiration."
Hardback, 300mm x 254mm, 264 pages, dustjacket.
ISBN 978-1-8384744-0-9
Recommended Retail Price £29.95
Order now and get free UK postage. Usually dispatched within three working days.
(This book is not on sale through online discount sellers)
“Many thanks Robert, thoroughly enjoyed your course and indeed, hope to see you on a tour before too long.”
“Thank you very much for this complete and compelling Landscape Course, leading us all over the world and trough all weathers and seasons. It was a fantastic learning for me and gives me a guideline for my future landscape photography.”
“Thank you so much for such an inspiring masterclass. I enjoyed it so much and I am really hoping that with your way of looking at things I can improve. Photography is like any other subject as there is so much to learn in terms of the technicalities of taking the image itself but then the knowledge of the weather and tides etc ... Thanks again for being such an inspirational teacher.”
“Just want to say a huge thank you for this workshop. Both sessions were really informative. I enjoyed the structure and format and your book helpfully compliments the topics covered, meaning that the learning will continue beyond the workshop. I very much appreciated the range and breadth of topics, locations, techniques and above all your generosity in sharing your extensive knowledge. By far the best photography workshop I have attended.”
“Thanks for the first part of the course, which I found very enjoyable and useful. The content is brought alive by the breadth and variety of your wonderful images. I wonder how many other teachers would be able to call upon so many examples taken over periods of many years and they really work to illustrate the points you are putting across. They are also simply wonderful to admire and the exceptionally high standard of photography in general also elevates the content of the course in my opinion, along with the scientific approach you apply to understanding the natural environment.”
“Your Landscape Masterclass course was excellent. You explain points very well. Also your teaching style was very interactive so all the participants were very engaged, and I learnt quite a lot from their comments as well. Overall I really enjoyed it.”