Digital Photography Workshops
I usually run two underwater photography teaching trips each year and am sometimes involved in other events too. At present I run workshops in Grand Cayman and the Red Sea. These are destinations that I know intimately, so that we can discuss light, subjects, settings and techniques etc in detail before diving. They also have reliably excellent conditions for underwater photography, to insure these weeks are as productive as possible. Also both have predictable subject matter, which enables us to shoot, discuss and reshoot to get those special images.
My workshops are aimed at experienced shooters, looking to take their photos to the next level. They are not intended for those on their first trip with a camera. I do not have a competition element to my workshops that really helps promote a constructive and sharing atmosphere, which is to everyones benefit. My workshops usually attract an international mix, which I feel is very beneficial exposing everyone to equipment, techniques, ideas and philosophies they may not have come across at home. In the last few years that has meant photographers coming together from UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Holland, Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Australia, Venezuela, Cayman Islands and India.
Cayman Workshop
In the last year I have tried to differentiate my two workshops because many people want to attend both. The Cayman Workshop is focused on Lighting, going back to basic principles and looking at the nature of light sources underwater, and how we different types of light must be controlled and can be exploited in different ways to create stunning underwater images. Cayman provides both wide angle, big animal (sharks and rays) and macro photo opportunities. Wide angle provides opportunities for both balanced light (reef scenics) and available light photography (stingrays, including black and white). The Cayman workshop includes a pool session, where I can work with everyone 1:1 to demonstrate strobe positioning for wide angle photography. Post processing is discussed, particularly in the image review sessions, but it is not the main focus of the workshop. The group size in Cayman is limited to 12 people and is based at Ocean Frontiers at Compass Point Resort, East End, Grand Cayman. This workshop usually runs in January. You can see a gallery of the participants images from the 2009 event here.
Red Sea Workshop
The Red Sea Workshop is themed on making the most of the photographic opportunities in the Red Sea. This usually means a mix of spectacular wreck photography, beautiful reefs and on when the trip is scheduled for June the dramatic schools of fish at Ras Mohammed, including the famous Bohar snappers. These trips are liveaboard based to access the best sites in the area, and again this workshop predominately wide angle photography. The lectures include specific advice and tips related to the subjects that we will be shooting and the best techniques for capturing them. Lectures are divided into short 30 minutes sections, given before dives during the day. The evenings are then free for image review sessions. The group size is larger than the Cayman trips (usually 19 depending on the boat) since the best boats, with the most space for cameras tend to be this size. These trips are usually sold with flights from London or they are available without flights. For the last few years many North American based photographers have joined these trips as an easy and safe way to access the fantastic diving in the Red Sea.
To get a flavour of my workshops you can read a report on my November 2008 Red Sea Workshop and see topside photos from my January 2009 Cayman Workshop and on Facebook my most recent June 2009 Red Sea Workshop. You can also watch a short video of the August 2010 Netherlands workshop here
Get On The List
I guess because I do not run that many of them, my photo workshops are always very popular and have always filled up quickly. Typically I let those who have been before have first shout at the places by letting them know about them first. Having a core of repeaters tends to ensure a continuity of the helpful and friendly atmosphere I try to promote. Then I tend to email a more general announcement lists and put announcements on this website. Finally, I may place an announcement or advert on Wetpixel or in UWP Magazine. I generally do not put announcements on Facebook, even though people have asked me to. So if you are interested please email me to get on the announcement list.
Finally, if you are a keen underwater photographer, it is also worth looking at my photography trips. These do not have any structured teaching but offer diving tailored to underwater photography, often at more exotic destinations than the workshops, and plenty of time for informal discussions.
Nordic Photo Workshop September 2010 - FULL
In September I am returning to Norway to run the Nordic Photo Workshop again. Last year's event was well attending and I look forward to returning in a fitter state to run a great event. Watch this short video from last year's event to get you in the mood for the diving or to see what the diving is like. The event will be based again at the excellent Gulen Dive Resort, north of Bergen on the west coast of Norway. The resort offers some of the best diving facilities in Scandinavia, but more importantly it has a selection of world-class dive sites right at its door step. Even the house reef is regularly described as a photographer's paradise. All the sites offer both wide angle and macro potential. The dive resort is exclusively ours for the duration of the workshop and we have set up a full package for you that includes everything from qualified dive staff, accommodation, food, equipment handling, workshop facilities and even a dive in bar for those of you who prefer to discuss shutter speeds over an evening beer.
The workshop starts Tuesday 21.9.2010, minibus pick up from Bergen airport at 16:00 (note Norwegian has direct flight from Gatwick and excellent baggage policy). Course ends 25.9.2010, departure to Bergen with Minibus Sunday 26th in the morning. I will lead the teaching aspect of the workshop, together with one of Norway's most experienced photographers: Christian Skauge from Dykking Magazine. We will be teaming up with Lars Kirkegaard of Fotografit, who will manage logistics and hands on training throughout the work-shop. On Friday night we will welcome a very special guest speaker: Espen Rekdal. Espen is official world champion in Underwater Photography 2009.
You can see some topside images from the 2009 workshop here, and a gallery of my underwater images here, although I did not dive that much as I was still recovering from hurting my back in the Bahamas.
For more information on Nordic Underwater Photo Event 2010, contact FOTOGRAFIT.
Grand Cayman Photo Workshop Jan 2011 - 4 SPOTS REMAINING (as of 01/09/10)
In 2011 I will be running Digital Madness again. This is my popular UW photo workshop based at Ocean Frontiers at the East End of Grand Cayman. There are two weeks to choose from: Week 1: 15-22 January and Week 2: 22-29 January 2011. I run two weeks of this event, meaning I can limit the group size to 12 photographers. The theme is lighting, with a focus on wide angle photography. The title is: Understanding, capturing and controlling both strobe and available light underwater. We will be shooting Grand Cayman's dramatic walls, the East End's atmospheric caverns, fishy shallow reefs, at Stingray City, the newly sunk (ex-USS) Kittiwake wreck and much more. All subjects have unique opportunities and their own technical challenges. The workshop covers both classic and creative techniques. The workshop always includes the traditional dawn stingray shoot, with the group now granted special photographic permissions, to shoot to the spectacular stingray schooling behaviour. We will also aim for encounters with Cayman's larger creatures such as turtles, tarpon and reef sharks. And finally, although this is a wide angle themed workshop, we will do a couple of long, shallow critter dives. You can get an idea of the variety of subject matter from looking at my galleries of photos, taken during the 2010 and 2009 workshop weeks.
The Cayman Workshop has a focus on really perfecting lighting. We go back to basic principles and looking at the nature of light sources underwater, and how we different types of light must be controlled and can be exploited in different ways to create stunning underwater images. Wide angle subjects provides opportunities for both balanced light (reef scenics), challenging mixed lighting environments (caves) and available light photography (stingrays, including black and white). The Cayman workshop includes a pool session at the beginning of the week, where I can work with everyone 1:1 to improve strobe positioning for wide angle photography and get everyone maximising their productivity on the reefs. Post processing is discussed, particularly in the group image review sessions, but it is not the main focus of the workshop. Paul Colley, who came on the workshop this year (2010), wrote this report. There is an excellent gallery of topside images from Week 1 in 2010 taken by Predrag Vuckovic here.
Package Price (excluding flights): US Dollars: $2,175.00 per person based on double occupancy in a one-bedroom oceanfront condominium. Alternative room rates based on occupancy are available and single supplement is $625.00. For more information click here or email lesley@oceanfrontiers.com to make your reservation now.
