Weekend Landscape Digital Photography Workshops
“The course was brilliant and greatly exceeded my expectations… I learned so much during the weekend. At last I understand the true potential of my digital SLR. Your one-to-one instructions during the photo-shoots was brilliant. I have some stunning photographs which always remind me of one of the best weekends I have had in a very long time.”
— Paul Byrne, Dublin
“Thank you so much for your patience and humour during the workshop. The experience was thoroughly enjoyable and I really feel like I have finally got a handle on issues which have been confusing me for years!”
— Clodagh Gleeson, Dublin
“Thanks for a great workshop. I got a really good grounding that will enable me to use the camera to greater effect and to develop my skills. You’re a good teacher and your enthusiasm and passion for photography is matched by your competence and ease with the technology.”
— Mary Rafferty, Dublin
“I’m writing to thank you for a marvelous two days… I can say without any hesitation that the workshop exceeded my expectations… You brought such an enthusiasm to the workshop and this obviously comes from your great love of your work.”
— Philip McKeever, Dublin
“Many thanks for the workshop over the weekend. It was extremely enjoyable and very interesting to see how I could achieve something with my camera which I have always wanted to do but never knew how. Please keep me informed of events as I really enjoyed the weekend and would love to learn more.”
— Vincent Walshe, Cork
“Thank you for your excellent course in digital SLR photography. I can’t wait to start using what I’ve learned!”
— Anne Cardiff, Wexford
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New: For the moment I’m no longer offering my field workshops in Dublin, but have switched to Killarney instead.
Ready to improve your photography skills? I offer digital photography workshop courses for both beginners and improvers, in both Kerry and Cork. All workshops are run over a weekend and are limited to just 6 participants. This means you’ll be assured the individual attention you need to get the most from the experience.
My goal is for you to have a great time, get some fantastic photographs and go home having learned how to make better images for yourself.
Skill levels:
I offer two levels of course – beginners and improvers.
Beginners courses are designed for the beginner who has a digital SLR (or any digital camera which has manual controls – call me if you’re not sure if your camera is suitable). You’re just setting out on your photographic journey and are looking for direction on how to use your camera, both technically and artistically.
Improvers courses are designed for the more advanced user – perhaps you’ve already taken my beginners class and are looking for more, or maybe you’ve been developing your skills on your own and want that extra push to take your photography to the next level. Familiarity with basic photographic theory (exposure, aperture and shutter speeds, etc.) are assumed at this level, and we will focus on more advanced technical topics such as the use of filters, high dynamic range imagery, etc. We will also go more in-depth into the post-processing workflow.
In either case, class size is limited to 6 students, so everyone is guaranteed plenty of personal attention.
Price
The price for the workshop is €450. This price includes two day’s tuition, but does not include food or accommodation. To book, click on the appropriate button at the top of the page.
Beginners Courses — what’s covered
The goal of the workshop is to teach you the fundamentals of photography – both art and craft.
The craft of photography is about making good exposures (neither under- or over-exposed), having appropriate depth-of-field so your subjects are in focus and maximising image quality by using a tripod.
The art is about understanding composition and the use of light, along with how to use the technical settings under your control for different creative uses.
To achieve this, we will start on the first morning by going out and taking some images on location. The fundamentals above will be introduced and we’ll try our hand at applying them for the first time.
Following this shoot, we will head indoors for some refreshments and a chance to review the images that have been taken. The lessons of the morning will be reinforced by seeing how they have helped your images. Where the images weren’t successful, we’ll put the mistakes to good use and learn from them.
After a break for lunch, we will continue in the afternoon with a demonstration of how basic image editing with both free and industry-standard tools can improve your results, without harming the integrity of your images.
The evening shoot will allow us to put the lessons learned throughout the day into use, and solidify the fundamental concepts. Likewise with the morning shoot the following day.
Following on from the second day’s morning shoot, we will once again have an indoor session to review any outstanding issues you would like clarification on, as well as further practice in basic post-processing techniques.
What we’ll cover, in the field:
- How to make a good exposure
- Understanding aperture and depth of field
- Shooting technique and how to eliminate camera shake and vibration
- Photographing panoramas with a view to digital stitching
- How to use filters (polarizing and neutral density)
- The basics of good composition, and when to break the rules
- How to use RAW mode to maximise your image’s potential
- Exposing to the right to capture maximum detail
What we’ll cover, in the studio:
- Optimising your image in Photoshop and Lightroom (incuding Curves, Local contrast enhancement, and Contrast masking)
- Understanding RAW capture and how to convert your images.
Improvers Courses — what’s covered
The goal of the Improvers workshop is to expand on the fundamentals and go into more detail on the more esoteric and technically challenging aspects of photography.
Things like:
- Technical optimization of exposure
- Advanced use of depth-of-field
- HDR shooting and processing
- Advanced use of filters
- Using perspective creatively
- Composing images more effectively
We will also go into more detail on the postprocessing workflow, and discuss printing in detail.
The general format of the workshop will follow that of the Beginners course – shooting in the morning and evening with a studio/critique session in the middle of the day.
Accommodation
Accommodation is not provided, but here is some information to help you make your booking:
- The Kerry workshop takes place in and around Killarney. Locations include the lake shore, Torc Waterfall, and the Eagle’s Nest among others. I recommend booking at the Lake Hotel. Mention that you’re on my workshop and you’ll get a significant reduction in your room rate. It’s also where we’ll be basing ourselves for the weekend, so it’ll be the most convenient place to stay. If that doesn’t suit or they are booked out, the Brehon, Gleneagle and numerous B&Bs are in the immediate vicinity.
- For the Cork workshop, from April to October, accommodation can be had at the Gougane Barra Hotel. This is the preferred location, as it is right at the location where we’ll be shooting. Mention you’re booking for one of my workshops to receive a preferential rate. They are closed in the winter, so between October and April, Findus House is your best bet. Mary and Michael will make you feel very much at home.
Locations:
Killarney Workshop: Killarney is situated in the heart of some of Ireland’s most stunning scenery. From Lough Leane to Torc Waterfall, the Gap of Dunloe to Ladies’ View, there are a plethora of choices. We will choose locations that will benefit most from the weather conditions at hand on the weekend.
Cork Workshop: The beautiful Gougane Barra valley will form the core of our photo shoots. From a tranquil lake to dramatic mountains to secluded forest, there is plenty of variety to explore your new-found skill for photography.
The workshop will finish at about 2pm on Sunday, allowing plenty of time for you to get home that evening.
Price:
The price for this workshop is €450.
Cancellations:
Cancellations will be accepted and your workshop can be rescheduled if the request is received at least one month before the workshop start date. Cancellations after this date cannot be accommodated unless a replacement for you can be found.
Other details:
Gift Certificates are available — Makes for a wonderful gift for the person who has everything!
If you have questions or would like to discuss alternative arrangements, you can contact me through this site or call me on 064 668 6076. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
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