Westcountry Wildflowers & Macro Workshop

These very popular one-day workshops are each split over two days and offer participants two intensive sessions photographing various wildflower and insect species in fantastic locations in Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. There may also be opportunities for a few landscape shots, especially during the early morning session. The workshop will start and end in Dorchester.

These workshops are timed to coincide with some of the best wildflower opportunities of the year. In April spring wildflowers such as bluebells and ramsons will be our priority. In June it will be orchids and butterflies. I will start by checking that your camera is set up correctly for close-up photography. As we go along I will explain the techniques that I use for my own wildflower and macro photography such as; low shooting angles, use of lighting effects, finding background bokeh, use of telephoto lenses and use of focus-stacking. We will spend as much time as possible photographing wildflowers and insects in the field, but in the event of very poor weather I will review your images, offer advice on how to improve your success rate and demonstrate a few processing techniques.

The workshop price includes one (short!) night's accommodation in single en-suite rooms. We will aim to spend approximately 10-12 hours in the field (weather permitting).

These workshops are limited to a maximum of 3 participants to ensure that everyone receives sufficient help from me and can shoot without other photographers being in the way! It is also important to work in small groups in order to cause as little damage as possible to the delicate wildflower habitats that we will be visiting. Everyone will travel in my vehicle from our meeting and finishing point in Dorchester.

The workshop will begin at 4pm on the first day, from here we’ll head out to our first location where we’ll carry on shooting until just after sunset (10pm). We will then return to the b&b for a short night’s sleep before heading out again in time for sunrise (4am). The workshop will end at about 10am on the second day. This itinerary allows us to make best use of the calm conditions and good light that often occur around dawn and dusk.

• Price

  £325

• Maximum Participants

  3

• Level of Fitness Required

  Easy - short walks over rough terrain

• Included

  Photographic tuition, Transport during the workshop, One night at a hotel in Dorchester in single en-suite room

• Excluded

  Transport to Dorchester, Meals & drinks, Insurance