Landscape 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?
In Wiltshire, we are fortunate to have great landscapes right here in our county. There are vistas of rolling downland, sweeping vales swathed in autumn mist and ancient woodlands carpeted with spring flowers. Our evocative ancient monuments are world-famous. Within a day’s drive there is even more variety, such as waterfalls, mountains and coasts. Each type of subject presents its own particular challenges … and opportunities.
This two day course, at the excellent photography training facilities of Lacock Photography in Wiltshire, 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. Indoor sessions will look at composition, focal length and focus, use of light, colour and monochrome. Examples from Wiltshire and 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. Subjects covered in depth are:
Two field visits will enable us to put into practice what we have learned. Bowood Estate is one of Wiltshire’s iconic landscapes, featuring parkland designed by Capability Brown, a lake with Doric temple, arboretum and a cascade. These gardens look fabulous in late October and are also charming in May, when we will have the opportunity to also visit Bowood’s remarkable woodland rhododendron gardens. On day two we will explore four of the best locations in the Marlborough Downs and the Vale of Pewsey, which are part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Locations will be selected to suit conditions on the day and are expected to include the Kennet and Avon Canal, a Neolithic dolmen, a white horse and woodland for autumn colour or spring flowers. Guidance will be given on location, composition and exposure in the field to enable you to get the best out of these delightful landscapes.
The course dates have been selected for the weeks of the year when we expect these two locations to be at their best. In spring our photographs will be enhanced by the vibrant colours of freshly formed leaves and flowers. Autumn offers a very different colour palette of pastel hues and golden leaves.
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.
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants.
Recommended Photographic Equipment: digital single lens reflex camera, 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), neutral density filters (not graduated), polarising filter, remote cable release, hiking shoes/boots and waterproof clothes
Dates:
Two day workshop, cost: £295
Included: Travel to Bowood and other field trip locations. Refreshments (coffee, tea etc).
Not included: Travel to Lacock, accommodation, evening meals.
In Wiltshire, we are fortunate to have great landscapes right here in our county. There are vistas of rolling downland, sweeping vales swathed in autumn mist and ancient woodlands carpeted with spring flowers. Our evocative ancient monuments are world-famous. Within a day’s drive there is even more variety, such as waterfalls, mountains and coasts. Each type of subject presents its own particular challenges … and opportunities.
This two day course, at the excellent photography training facilities of Lacock Photography in Wiltshire, 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. Indoor sessions will look at composition, focal length and focus, use of light, colour and monochrome. Examples from Wiltshire and 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. 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
Two field visits will enable us to put into practice what we have learned. Bowood Estate is one of Wiltshire’s iconic landscapes, featuring parkland designed by Capability Brown, a lake with Doric temple, arboretum and a cascade. These gardens look fabulous in late October and are also charming in May, when we will have the opportunity to also visit Bowood’s remarkable woodland rhododendron gardens. On day two we will explore four of the best locations in the Marlborough Downs and the Vale of Pewsey, which are part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Locations will be selected to suit conditions on the day and are expected to include the Kennet and Avon Canal, a Neolithic dolmen, a white horse and woodland for autumn colour or spring flowers. Guidance will be given on location, composition and exposure in the field to enable you to get the best out of these delightful landscapes.
The course dates have been selected for the weeks of the year when we expect these two locations to be at their best. In spring our photographs will be enhanced by the vibrant colours of freshly formed leaves and flowers. Autumn offers a very different colour palette of pastel hues and golden leaves.
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.
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants.
Recommended Photographic Equipment: digital single lens reflex camera, 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), neutral density filters (not graduated), polarising filter, remote cable release, hiking shoes/boots and waterproof clothes
Dates:
- 11 and 12 May 2022
- 31 October and 1 November 2022
Two day workshop, cost: £295
Included: Travel to Bowood and other field trip locations. Refreshments (coffee, tea etc).
Not included: Travel to Lacock, accommodation, evening meals.
I run this workshop in association with Lacock Photography and bookings can be made on their website.
Other Photography Tours that you may be interested in:
Glencoe and Skye
Cairngorms Birds and Mammals
Milky Way and Cornwall Coast
Mull's Otters and Eagles
Secrets of the Wiltshire Landscape
Bustards, Butterflies and Barn Owls
Seabirds and Castles
Deserts of Namibia
Milky Way and Jurassic Coast
Dartmoor Tors and Hidden Valleys
Lake District in Autumn
Jurassic Coast in Midwinter
Other Photography Courses that you may be interested in:
Astrophotography Workshop
Astrophotography Evenings
Landscape Fundamentals Workshop
Landscape Masterclass
