photography course
Nature Photography workshop at Northward Hill RSPB
Friday 13th (just 2 places remaining) and 20th July 2012
This summer, I shall, once again, be doing a Photographing Nature workshop at Northward Hill RSPB, situated on the Isle of Grain in North Kent. As last year, a percentage shall be going to the MSEP (Medway and Swale Estuary Partnership). I have supported this organisation for a number of years now by doing photo walks during the Kent Coastal Week and supplying images for their twice yearly publication, The Mudlark. The principle behind them is to raise awareness to the importance of this region and “to address issues affecting economic, environmental and social well being of the estuary.”
The day will be a mix of classroom presentations and in-the-field photography where I will be going through such things as those camera settings that I regularly use as a professional photographer as well as covering metering modes, exposure, iso, composition and reading the histogram. With the aid of digital presentations, I will illustrate how to get close-ups of insects and flowers as well as the landscape. I will also illustrate how to get closer to birds and mammals through using hides and stalking. Post-processing techniques will also be touched upon.
Last years group, infront of a pop-up hide, on a very warm August afternoon.
As we are situated on a fabulous nature reserve we shall, of course, be putting many of those techniques discussed into practise though, it has to be stressed, photography of birds and mammals will not be possible as they are both too shy and elusive! However, there will be plenty of butterflies, dragonflies and flowers to aim our lenses at throughout the day.
A hoverfly species, superbly snapped by one of the participants, Chris Moncrieff.
Numbers will be limited to just 6 and are on a first come first served basis. Welcome tea and coffee will be provided.
If you would like to attend, please get in touch, either by phone, on 07939 117570 or email: rmcanis@msn.com
Peak District Workshop – Special offer! SOLD OUT!!
Due to a couple cancelling, I have spaces available on my Peak District Landscape Photography Workshop which will be held on Saturday October 29th 2011. As it is only 3 weeks away, I am prepared to offer this at a much reduced price from £110 per person to just £90 which also includes a pub lunch.
Stanage Edge
The day will be centered around 3 famous edges, the first being Stanage Edge where we spend the first couple of hours, and then, after a pub lunch, head onto Curbar and Baslow Edge. Should the weather prove too inclement for part of the day, we will go to a nearby gorge and shoot autumnal woodland scenes and waterfalls. This will be my sixth Peak District workshop in just ever a year and among the various comments I receive, is that they found it not only an instructional day but a fun get-together of like-minded individuals with a passion for photography.
Numbers, as always, will be limited to just 6 giving me plenty of time with each on an almost one-to-one basis. This I find is crucial as there will be a mix of abilities and since people learn at different speeds, I am able to cater for each, accordingly.
For more information, please, click HERE which will take you to the relevant workshop page on my website. Alternatively, you can call me on 07939 117570 or email at rmcanis@msn.com
Photography workshops in Kent
I have just added 3 new workshops which can be viewed here on the workshops page on my website. They have only been up a short while and already places are being filled so if you’re interested, please get in touch soon. Below is an overview of those added.
Bluebell Photography Walk
Sunday May 1st – 10.00 to 13.00 hrs.
(Group size – 6. 4 places remaining)
To be held at Hucking Estate, a beautiful woodland near Maidstone. Ideal for those wishing to learn how to photograph plants, insects and woodland scenes. Suitable for beginners as well as the more experienced. £30
Kent’s Lady Orchids
Saturday May 14th – 14.00 to 18.00 hrs.
(Group size-6)
The location for this orchid photography workshop is a nature reserve near Garlinge Green, south of Canterbury. I’ll be covering such things as composition, lens selection, exposure and flash. Choice of time has been chosen to avoid the mid-day sun and benefit from the low, late afternoon sunlight. £45
Heathland Sunrise
Saturday August 20th and Sunday 21st – 04.30 to 07.30 hrs.
(Group size-3. 2 places remaining on each day)
Experience the vibrant colours of flowering heath at Kent’s largest heathland, Hothfield Heathlands, near Ashford, at sunrise. Suitable for those of all levels and as the group size is only 3, there’ll be no bustling for the best positions! This really is a time when the most atmospheric pictures are created where an early rise is well rewarded. I will go through my thought process when seeking a composition and the decisions I make when choosing the right lens along with using filters, obtaining the correct exposure and assessing the camera’s histogram. Dew laden cobwebs and dragonflies are other possible subjects £35
Kent’s Wildflowers
Wednesday May 4th – 09.00 to 18.00 hrs.
(Group size-2. 1 place remaining)
A full day of photography in mid and north Kent at various favourite locations hand-picked by myself. This is a great time to experience Kent’s ancient woodlands and Downs and the flowers it harbours. The group size has been kept to just 2 so we can all travel in my car and give you pretty much one-to-one tuition. The price also includes a pub lunch at a an award-winning pub run by a personal friend of mine. £125
As with all my workshops, the price includes unlimited correspondence before and after the day and email review of your images.
New date added and spread for the Peak District photography course
Another date has been added to the Gritstone Edges of the Peak District photography workshop. There is just one space left on Saturday March 27th with Sunday fully booked. I have therefore added another date which will be Sunday April 11th. Two spaces have already been filled. If you’re interested please click here for more information.
Outdoor Photography magazine
The article I was commissioned to write for Outdoor Photography which has just been published and available in all good newsagents…..and bad ones!
Peak District photography course
Having been commissioned by Outdoor Photography magazine to write a piece on the Peak District, I thought it would be an idea to hold two one-day landscape photography workshops in the same location at roughly the time the images were taken, being March. The article will be out next month in the March issue.
View from Curbar Edge to Baslow Edge
View from Baslow Edge to Curbar Edge
The piece itself centres around two gritstone edges called Baslow Edge and Curbar edge which lie to the west within the National Park, approximately 11 miles east of Chesterfield. This is where the course will be held. We will be combining the two with another spectacular edge just 8 miles north called Stanage Edge.
View from Stanage Edge
This is arguably the park’s most famous edge from which wonderful views abound in all directions.
Abandoned mill stones at Stanage Edge
We begin the day at Stanage Edge at 08.00 hrs, break for lunch around midday then onwards to Baslow and Curbar Edges until sunset. It will be on a first come first served basis and will be restricted to just 6 participants so that each benefits from myself as opposed to unfairly, I think, spreading myself thin amongst more.
The price will be £105 per person which includes tuition and a pub lunch. For more information please click here.
About Robert Canis
Robert Canis is a professional photographer specialising in the natural world.
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