This workshop will be led by professional photographer Robert Harvey and will have of maximum of 6 participants.

Start Time: 10:00

Finish Time: 19:30

Landscapes are perennially popular subjects for photographers. However, capturing a really good landscape image is challenging. Everyone can photograph the landscape … but what makes a striking landscape photograph? How much is down to planning and how much is serendipity? Why and how does a superb photograph stand out from the rest?

This one-day masterclass, held at the Castle Hotel in the market town of Devizes, Wiltshire, covers the techniques and perception required to take your landscape photographs to the next level. Concepts explored in detail throughout the course will be thinking creatively, vision, planning ahead, making the most of opportunities and developing your photographic style. The course is interactive and your participation with questions, comments and opinions is encouraged. 

We will cover:

• What do we mean by photographic vision and style?
• Weather: Sunshine, cloud, mist, frost, snow and rain all present opportunities and challenges. What subjects work best in what conditions?
• Seasons: How can we bring seasonal influences to the fore and add that extra ingredient to our pictures?
• Photographing Water: Whether still or flowing, water is a dynamic element in the landscape. We will discuss the effect of weather, time of day, shutter speed and filters to capture movement and reflections.
• Photographing the Coast: Our coast is the spectacular wild edge of Britain. How can we optimise the use of light and tides to fulfil the tremendous photographic potential of beaches, cliffs, sea stacks, lighthouses, castles and storms?
• Impact and Narrative: Some of the most compelling pictures capture a moment or tell a story.

The indoor session will conclude with an exercise on “The Point of Return”, in which participants will be invited to look at landscape photographs and suggest how different lighting, seasonal or weather conditions could maximise the potential of the composition. The tutor will then show a second image of each scene demonstrating his approach to creating a better image.

After the indoor sessions, there will be a field visit to a nearby downland location where we can put into practice what we have learned. Guidance will be given on location, composition and exposure in the field to enable you to get the best out of a delightful landscape.

To get the most out of the course students should already understand the fundamentals of exposure, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, composition and using light; and be comfortable handling their cameras using aperture priority and manual mode. Our “Landscape Fundamentals” course is the ideal preparation for this course but all amateur photographers with significant experience of landscape photography are welcome to attend.

Recommended Photographic Equipment: digital single lens reflex camera or equivalent, wide angle lens (16mm on full frame or 10mm on cropped sensor), standard zoom lens and short to medium telephoto lens (70-300mm would be ideal), sturdy tripod (essential), hiking shoes/boots and waterproof clothes.

Indoor session: 10am to 5pm with break for lunch. Outdoor field trip: 5pm to 7.30pm.

Included: Tuition, lunch, refreshments. Not included: transport to Castle Hotel, transport to field location, parking.

Terms for all Participants in 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.

Joining Instructions

Most of our events have the meeting time and place specified on the relevant event page on the RPS website (this is a link to the Landscape Group events calendar). In some cases, however, the event leader may email you shortly before the event with more detailed instructions. Please keep an eye on your incoming emails prior to an event but if you do not receive any specific instructions, then you should meet at the time and place advertised on the website.

Cancellation by You:

If you wish to cancel your booking PLEASE let the event leader / organiser know with as much notice as possible. If nothing else, this can avoid them 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 the event leader / organiser 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. 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 and/or to teach you particular skills.

Liability for any accident, injury, medical condition, loss or damage to property, inappropriate behavior, 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