Landscape 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, at the excellent photography training facilities of Lacock Photography in Wiltshire, 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 second day will include a half-day image processing workshop. You are encouraged to bring a selection of landscape images (preferably RAW files), either taken on the Landscape Fundamentals Course or elsewhere. The tutor will demonstrate how to get the best out of them using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.

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.

Lunches and refreshments throughout the course are included.

To get the most out of the course students should already understand the fundamentals of exposure, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition and using light; and be comfortable handling their cameras using aperture priority and manual mode. Our “Landscape Photography Fundamentals” course is the ideal preparation for this course but all amateur photographers with significant experience of landscape photography are welcome to attend.

This course is suitable for students with DSLR cameras, a range of lenses from wide angle to telephoto and sturdy tripods. Processing techniques will be demonstrated using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop so it will be advantageous if you already have these or are looking to acquire them. Participants can either bring their own laptops/computers to use with Adobe Lightroom Classic and Photoshop installed or use one of our own desktop Windows 10 systems. Basic Adobe Lightroom Classic skills can be acquired on Lacock Photography's Adobe Lightroom Workshop if necessary. To ensure individual attention, the course is limited to six participants. The course is interactive and your participation with questions, comments and opinions is encouraged.

Group size: Maximum of 6 participants.

Dates:

• 2 and 3 June 2021
• 27 and 28 November 2021

Two day workshop, cost: £295

Included: Refreshments (coffee, tea etc).

Not included: Travel to Lacock, accommodation, evening meals.