First week of the month Length 2hrs. 9:30 am-11:30 am Informal Woodland photo walk workshops in and around Warwickshire Woodlands | All Levels Welcome
Summary
Location: Various Warwickshire Woodlands
Dates: 2024 - 09:30 - 11:30
Hay Woods - Solihull Sat Jan 6
Tile Hill Wood - Coventry - Mon Apr 1
Millisons Wood, Meriden - Mon May 6
Piles Coppice, Coventry - Mon Nov 4
Crackley Wood, Kenilworth - Fri Nov 8
Participants: Max 6
Fitness: 1. Easy
Photography Workshop Event Details: Woodland Walks
Description: Simplifying Woodland Photography: Unlocking the Secrets to Capturing the Beauty of Nature
My aim is not to instruct you what to shoot, instead, I want to help you develop your own sense of visual awareness, photographic eye and your personal interpretation. I will be happy to help you with the “how to shoot” whatever it is you feel drawn to and wish to express through your creative vision using the camera to construct your intention. The walks around these selected woodlands are aimed to promote our senses and connection to trees/woodland/nature - as we walk, observe and take in our environment we may decide to make a photograph, or not.
Description/Itinerary
Hay Wood
Lapworth, Solihull
Hay Wood is one of my personal local favourites. A mix of deciduous and but mainly heavily coniferised remains of a Medieval wood.
The evergreen spruce create a wonderful tapestry of structure, colour and shapes with a woodland floor covered in bracken that glows various shades of yellow, orange and rust in the low sunlight this time of year.
Description of this historic site
Although it is a large wood of 103ha, most of Hay Wood is now conifer plantation. Around much of the edge of the wood is a large wood bank with an external ditch. The shape of the wood, with large re-entrants, is typical of many ancient woods. Within the wood and largely inaccessible because of the conifers are a number of banks and ditches of varying sizes, including a large double-banked deer park-type bank. These have not yet been recorded in detail. Patches of ancient small-leaved lime Tilia cordata coppice survive in places throughout the wood.
Woodland Walks
Woodlands, trees and nature have always been a source of inspiration, therapy and photography for me. I am always drawn to trees wherever I am photographing so I have decided to make 2019 the year I spend even more time amongst trees and in the woodlands.
I want to share and enjoy the tranquillity of our woodland environments with others so am listing twelve-monthly photo walks (one each month, on the first Tuesday of the month) around twelve different woodland habitats across Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The locations are renowned for interest and variety so offer something for every interest (abstract, macro, nature portrait, vista, cameo shot) throughout the year.
My aim is not to instruct you what to shoot, instead, I want to help you develop your own sense of visual awareness, photographic eye and your personal interpretation. I will be happy to help you with the “how to shoot” whatever it is you feel drawn to and wish to express through your creative vision using the camera to construct your intention.
“Give a man a fish you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish you feed them for life.”
Forest Bathing
This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest. Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.
The walks around these selected woodlands are aimed to promote our senses and connection to trees/woodland/nature - as we walk, observe and take in our environment we may decide to make a photograph, or not.
“The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.” Albert Einstein
On this workshop Alan will guide you through:
focusing and depth of field
tonal range and shadow and highlight recognition
composition and designing the shot
Dealing with various lighting scenarios
Abstract, Macro, Cameo/Portraits of woodland scenes, ICM or whatever you want to explore and learn.
Booking/Terms
6 Places - Availability will be marked as sold out if all spaces sold. The checkout option won’t work if all places are sold.
Purchase this photography workshop as a gift voucher for someone - just specify the event date on the voucher purchase checkout.
Terms
Please read my terms and conditions before booking as you will be bound by them upon receipt of money paid.
Price includes all tuition
Price excludes parking fees where applicable
Cancellation or Bad Weather
On the rare occasion that severe weather conditions prevent any of the photography workshops from safely or practically going ahead, other dates will be offered if a 1 day, 4hr or 2.5hr event.
Other Info
Participants are responsible for attending with appropriate footwear and are responsible for their own equipment.
Under 16's welcome but must be accompanied by a paying adult.
All bookings must be made in advance through Alan Ranger Photography website
Bookings are confirmed within 24hrs & joining instructions will be emailed out 4-7 days prior to the event date.
Optional post workshop image review and feedback on your images
Difficulty/Equipment
Fitness Level Required - Easy
This trip is rated as easy, meaning that most people with average fitness should comfortably be able to deal with the short walks (20mins) and occasional steps or gradients involved.
Experience Level - Beginner to Advanced
The class and workshop are suitable for any level, including beginners. Ideally you will understand exposure, aperture and be shooting in Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure mode.
All participants receive 1-2-1 tuition and support on practical workshops so that tutoring can be tailored to the individuals needs and experience.
You will be provided an electronic guide beforehand to set your camera up in preparation and ensure you have everything required
Equipment for this workshop
What to bring:
Your camera, fully charged battery and spare battery if you have one.
Remote Release Cable to take/time shots without touching the camera.
Any lens is suitable as there are always a range of shots to be taken using macro, telephoto and sometimes wide angle.
Tripod - Recommended but not essential unless you want to do macro or shots using telephoto focal lengths
Sensible footwear – it can sometimes be muddy and sticky underfoot so walking boots or trainers with good grip are recommended.
A large sandwich bag and an elastic band to wrap around your camera and lens if we have light rain
Water, snacks or whatever you need for the event duration
Raincoats or equivalent – we might catch a shower!
If you have any specific questions regarding equipment please contact me directly or take a look at my recommended products page.
Location
Location
Haywood Ln, Solihull
Gallery
My Approach
My Objective: Is to Improve Your Photography
“A good teacher gives you a gift for the rest of your life.”
That doesn’t mean “trophy” images – it’s the means to create images you like.
I aim to.
Provide you with an educational, fun, safe, well organised experience.
1. Help you improve your camera craft – settings and use of functions.
2. Help you use your equipment more effectively – lenses, tripods, filters etc.
3. Help you improve your creative thinking and composition.
4. Help you develop an approach to improving your landscape photography.
On this workshop Alan will guide you through:
Thinking more about composition
Using colour, texture, shape and more
Framing and designing the shot
Using camera settings to vary the effects
Learn the impact of using long exposure, shallow depth of field and other techniques.
Recognise correct lighting, contrast and texture to shape and form each shot.
Work with Alan to review your shots, try new ideas and improve your photography.