Dartmoor Photography Workshops
Want to improve your photographic skills?
Are you interested in getting more out of your images ‘in camera’?
Photography can seem quite daunting and highly technical. I’m self taught, so I’ve been where you are. I can help break down some of its key concepts in a non-technical way to help you elevate the quality of your images through these beginner friendly workshops.
I think you need to learn 3 key areas to create beautiful photographs…
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Light and how your camera interacts with it
Cameras don’t record light how the human eye and brain does, so you need to know what to do to get the most out of the conditions in front of you, and how to represent them faithfully.
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The art of noticing
Finding compelling subjects and creating an emotional connection with them in th image.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Composition
Possibly my favourite aspect of photography, and something where there’s always new things to learn in each situation.
Some simple tips will help you craft more engaging compositions once you’ve found your subject.
What to expect
Each session is 3 hours in duration and will include a short walk of up to 2.5 miles, allowing us plenty of time to stop and immerse ourselves in nature, and take a quick breather if required. The route will follow well defined and reasonably accessible trails. You’ll be part of a small group, with a maximum of 6 attendees.
We will cover topics such as:
Identifying photographic subjects
How to compose beautiful images both using some ‘rules’, and ignoring them
Learning what you’re trying to ‘say’ with a photograph to help convey emotion
How to work with the available light on the day
What settings you can use on your camera to make the most of the conditions in the field without post processing
Most importantly I believe that learning should be enjoyable. The atmosphere will be relaxed and engaging, and you can feel comfortable to ask questions, experiment with new approaches, and share your love of photography with the group. We may even play some games to encourage you to see things differently, helping you develop your photographer’s eye.
“I was stuck with poor photo compositions, unless occasionally I am lucky. You helped me improve significantly by showing me how you would frame a few of the scenes we saw”.
Previous workshop attendee
Choose your session and let’s get you booked in!
How is this different from a ‘traditional’ photography workshop?
Traditional workshops take place over several days of intense learning. These shorter sessions are spread throughout the year, offering a different approach:
Time to practice between sessions and reinforce learning at your own pace
Exposure to a wider range of subjects and conditions throughout the year, increasing your range of learning and applying your new skills in more scenarios
Ability to come back with queries in future workshops to work on specific areas
You don’t have to come to all the sessions throughout the year, but I believe you’ll develop stronger skills if you repeat the process in different conditions, it’ll also help reinforce your newly learnt skills. Additionally it will help me learn more about you, your needs, and be able to work through them with you in more detail.
The overall approach of the workshops will be focussing on embracing the artistic side of finding and creating beautiful images in the field, and embracing photography mindfully. All of my work is created without the aid of post-processing, with images being created ‘in-camera’. Consequently there isn’t a post-processing element to these workshops, though attendees are welcome to do this at their leisure if they wish.
If attendees use Fujfilm cameras I can share some of my Fujfilm recipes that I’ve developed which work well with the colours on Dartmoor. Have a look on my blog to explore these and learn how to set them up in your camera.
“Thank you Tom for a lovely informative afternoon. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to the next!”
“Great locations over a fairly short distance enables anybody to take part. You gave clear explanations of your process and shared good tips for phone and DSLR users”.
Previous workshop attendees
What’s included?
✓ 3-hour guided session with an experienced photographer ✓ Stunning Dartmoor location ✓ Gentle guidance on technical aspects ✓ Time with fellow photographers in a supportive, friendly atmosphere
What’s not included?
✗ Transport to the starting point
✗ Refreshments
✗ Photographic equipment, unless by prior arrangement at additional cost
✗ Personal insurance cover
What should I bring?
The old saying goes ‘the best camera is the one you have with you’. If you only have access to a smartphone that’s totally fine, some of the images in my book were created with one. However if you have a more advanced camera feel free to bring it, and as many lenses as you’re prepared to carry, with you.
If you’d like to explore hiring or borrowing equipment, please get in touch with me well in advance and I will try to help you.
Dartmoor is renowned for its changeable weather, so participants should come prepared to embrace its unpredictable nature.
Ensure you bring with you:
Camera / smartphone
Tripod if using a camera
Spare battery/memory card
Power bank if using a phone (I will have a backup with me)
Food and drink
Appropriate outdoor clothing - walking boots, waterproofs etc.
Transport to the meeting point
Personal insurance if applicable
A shower cap to cover your camera with if its rainy
Please don’t bring a drone with you as their use within Dartmoor National Park is prohibited.
Why book with me?
I have spent the past 7 years honing an approach to photography that is built around an intuitive ability to read the landscape, and respond to the conditions in front of me. I have used these skills to release a book of my images of Dartmoor National Park, a landscape I know intimately. Some people consider Dartmoor a tricky place to photograph, but I will share some tips and techniques to help you.
I am a proud member of Nature First, the alliance for responsible nature photography. Whilst we’re on our walk I will talk a little about the goals of Nature First to share how we can responsibly create and share images of the natural world.
I have chosen the locations of these walks carefully to minimise the impact on the environment, and chosen locations that only have suitable facilities for parking and walking without impact.
What about bad weather?
These workshops are designed to still be possible in the inclement weather, however if there are strong winds, heavy rain or weather warnings then plans may need to be adapted. I will endeavour to find an alternative location to run the workshop, however when dealing with nature this isn’t always possible. Please ensure you have read my cancellation policy before booking.
Want to gift a workshop to the photographer in your life?
If you’d like to gift one of these sessions to a friend or loved one, you can purchase digital gift cards for the value of a workshop by clicking here.
Looking for something more unique to your needs?
Group sessions aren’t for everyone’s cup of tea. If you’d like to discuss a 1 on 1 session then please get in touch to discuss what you’d like to work on and we can develop a plan suited to your needs.
As each person’s needs and gear are so different please get in touch to discuss what you’d like to focus on (pun intended), and we can work out a plan together to ensure you get what you want.
