This is a Member-Led Event, with a maximum of 8 participants, led by Alistair How LRPS.

Middleton Woods come alive with carpets of bluebells in the late spring and early summer. Making sense of woodland is often a challenge. Alistair will help members with composition tips and tricks to avoid coming home with all wood and no bluebells.

This workshop will focus on capturing the bluebells using composition techniques, intentional camera movement, multiple exposures etc. In addition to the bluebells there will often be other nature such as insects and even deer, plus of course trees.

Located behind the Lido in Ilkley, the woods span several acres on a gently sloping south facing land. There are well established paths throughout the woods, and just one residential road to cross.

 The woods are approximately a 15 minute walk from the centre of Ilkley and the train station. Ilkley has plenty of shops and cafes.

If you want to make a day of it, Alistair if happy to point you in the director of additional locations such as the cow and calf or surprise view which are great sunset locations close by.

Note that the woods are popular with dog walkers.

Meet: in the Lido carpark on Denton Rd, Ilkley for a prompt start at 09:30.  Finish will be around lunchtime.  The postcode LS29 0BZ is approximate.  

Parking: is available on-site by the Lido.

Toilets: are available at the lido, but not always open.

Terrain: uneven ground and or some steeper paths in woodlands. Not suitable for those with mobility issues beyond the initial paths in the woods.

What to wear: vomfortable, supportive foot ware. Conditions can be muddy after rain and there are some steeper areas. The car park is at the edge of the woods so there isn’t much walking to get into the woods and members can return to their vehicle should conditions change.

Food & drink: the woods are not in the town so you might want to bring a packed lunch. Picnic tables are available by the car park

What to bring: camera with wide angle 24-70 and a telephoto in the 70-200 range. A tripod and filters can be useful but not essential. If you have fun lenses like Lensbaby these can be good to use. The woods are not in the town so you might want to bring a packed lunch. Picnic tables are available by the car park

Environment: in addition to the £2 carbon-offset in the price, the RPS Landscape group is promoting the “You+2” initiative for us all to do something about the plastic pollution we see. Details on our Website.

Bad weather plan: Plan B will be to visit a nearby business park which has some very interesting urban architecture. It was the International Wool Secretariat with some very interesting art work on the building.

Advice: This is a member-lead event, simply to introduce you to a location, with no professional guidance. If you have a technical query, the leader or fellow participants might be able to help.

Terms for RPS Landscape Group Events:

Carbon offsets

Tickets for events that involve travelling include a £2 carbon offset charge that will be paid to a carefully researched and selected offsetting partner.

Cancellation by You:

If you wish to cancel your booking PLEASE tell us with as much notice as possible: a) directly to the event leader / organiser once they have issued the joining email (typically 10-14 days pre-event); or b) if before that email, use the Contact Organiser button. If early enough, we may be able to open up sales on a sold-out event or help the leader decide if numbers are low; if nothing else, it can avoid delaying the start of the event while they wait for you.

If you have paid for an event, please note that this fee/ticket price is non-refundable unless we are able to sell your place to somebody else. You are welcome to sell your place yourself but, again, PLEASE notify us in advance of any change.

Cancellation by us:

Event leaders are asked to make plans for alternative activities or locations in the case of poor weather and, in most cases, events will proceed despite poor weather unless, in the view of the event leader, the weather will lead to unacceptable safety risks or very little chance of successful photography. It is inevitable, however, that occasionally an event will be cancelled for this or another reason beyond the RPS’s control.

Occasionally an event may also be cancelled owing to lack of bookings. So if you wish to attend an event, don’t leave it till the last minute to book as it may be too late.

If an event is cancelled we will give you as much notice as we are able and any payment by you to the RPS in respect of the event offered as a full refund. In the case of events cancelled because of lack of interest we will aim to give at least three weeks’ notice wherever possible.

Please note we are NOT able to refund any associated or consequential costs including but not limited to travel, accommodation, insurance premium or other costs incurred by you in order to attend the event.

Responsibility:

You are responsible for your own health and safety and must appraise your own strength, fitness and mobility; and be prepared for the terrain, changing weather conditions etc. The event leader is NOT responsible for your safety, welfare or attendant medical conditions. Strictly the event leader is there to introduce you to a location.

You are responsible for your equipment etc at all times; use suitable bags for carrying it.  Keep camera bags close/secured in public. Please also take care if using a tripod in public areas to avoid any trips.

Car-sharing lifts with fellow participants, or the event leader, is at your own risk. Those offering car-sharing lifts may only do so provided that they have suitable insurance cover. 

Liability for any accident, injury, medical condition, loss or damage to property, inappropriate behaviour, dress, equipment and third party liability is accepted by you when signing up for the event. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Royal Photographic Society from all claims of whatsoever nature.

Insurance:

You are advised to consider having insurance to cover: event cancellation by you or by us, accident, medical, personal equipment and public liability.

In particular you should also consider, in the case of high cost events, the likelihood and consequences of you having to cancel or not attend at the last minute because of accident, medical or other unforeseeable circumstances.

Using your data:

Your personal details (name, telephone number and email address) will be provided to the leader of the event or workshop you have booked in order to enable them to:

• send you joining instructions for the event
• contact you at short notice in case of any emergency or last-minute change to the event.

If you do not want your details to be shared with the event leader please cancel your booking immediately. You will not be eligible for a refund as this information was provided on the web page where you made your booking.

Thank you

RPS Landscape Group Committee

© RPS Landscape Group / Images are used with the owner’s permission