Rottnest Island Photo Safari

Instructors: Seng Mah and Graeme Marsh
Level: Intermediate
Dates: Starts 2.30pm Friday August 23 – 10.00am Sunday August 25 (Workshop); Saturday August 31, 3.30pm-5.30pm (Post-processing session)
Cost*: $695 (with twin share accommodation at the Rottnest Lodge); Single supplement + $180
Location: Rottnest Island. Post-processing session in Fremantle (with Bunbury option available for participants living in the South West).
Maximum participants: 10 (1 place available) Please note: Bookings for this workshop close on Monday 12 August.

Please note: There is only 1 place remaining in this workshop – for a female twin share.

* The price includes tuition and accommodation. Workshop price does not include meals or travel to Rottnest. If you would like to attend but have your own accommodation at Rottnest, please contact us for a “tuition only” price.

If you’d like to learn how to photograph beautiful, evocative fine art landscapes or want to develop your photographic skills further in this direction, then join us for a weekend of landscape photography on Rottnest Island where you’ll shoot some of the most iconic and unique landscapes found only on Rottnest.

On this weekend workshop, you’ll explore hidden coves and beautiful bays, discover the dramatic landscapes of the salt lakes and uncover hidden locations within the island as you develop your landscape photography skills under the guidance of Seng Mah and Graeme Marsh.

You’ll learn how to see the light and to compose and expose for landscapes. Develop your skills and understanding in using circular polarisers, neutral density and graduated filters to capture light and create long exposures even under daylight! Find out how to shoot for panoramic stitching and to bracket your exposures to create high dynamic range images. You’ll also learn to shoot night landscapes under the light of the moon.

Then, a week later, on Saturday August 31, we will get togethr for a session on digital post production with Lightroom, Photoshop and Photomatix, where you’ll learn how to use these industry standard applications to turn your photographs into fine art landscapes ready for printing! (This 2-hour session is included in the fee – there is no extra cost).

Highlights of the Rottnest Island Photo Safari:

• Photograph the sunrise over the ocean at Caroline Thompson Bay, combining long exposures with using graduated filters to bring out the rich colours of sunrise.
• Shoot long exposures in daylight and sunset at Fay’s Bay and Geordie Bay on the north coast of the island.
• Shoot the Rottnest Island salt lakes under the light of the moon.
• Photograph the sunset and twilight across iconic Pinky Beach capturing the changing colours in the sky and on the landscape.
• Explore the old railway at Kingstown and learn to shoot bracketed exposures for high dynamic range imagery.
• Discover hidden coves and shoot long exposures of the Basin and Longreach Bay.
• Shoot Bathurst Lighthouse at night, using only the light of the moon.

What you will learn:

• Camera settings for landscape photography (aperture, shutter speed, ISO)
• Lenses and focal lengths for landscape photography.
• Picking your vantage point to shoot.
• Creative and artistic composition in landscape photography (you’ll learn the rules and then learn to break them).
• Using Manual Exposure and exposure metering modes in landscape photography.
• Shooting in RAW image format.
• Using Live View for composition and focusing.
• Using hyperfocal distance and depth of field calculators to ensure depth of field and sharpness.
• Using neutral density (ND) filters to create long exposures.
• Using graduated filters to balance exposures in landscapes.
• Using circular polarisers to create colour-rich landscapes.
• Shooting in Bulb mode for extreme long exposures of moonlit landscapes.
• Bracketing exposures using your camera’s auto-exposure bracketing (AEB) function to extend dynamic range captured.
• Shooting for panoramic stitching.
• Processing your RAW images using Lightroom.
• Panoramic stitching using Photoshop and Automerge.
• Manually blending exposures in Photoshop using Luminosity Masks.
• Using Photomatix to create high dynamic range (HDR) images.

What you will need:

• Your digital camera (we recommend a DSLR).
• Lenses with focal range covering about 16mm to 150mm.
• A sturdy tripod (we recommend tripods with thick, sturdy legs and with heads that allow you to tilt and pan easily for panorama shooting).
• A remote shutter release (we recommend using a cable release).
• Neutral density (ND) filters: ND8 (3 stop) and ND400 (9 stop) or ND1000 (10 stop) filters
• Graduated filters (ND grad): ND4 (2 stop) and ND8 (3 stop) graduated filters
• A sturdy camera bag that is easy to carry around (backpack or a sling bag)
• Spare batteries, battery charger, spare camera cards.
• A large plastic bag to protect your camera gear from moisture, drizzle or sea spray.
• Warm, weatherproof clothing.
• Sturdy, comfortable shoes suitable for walking on uneven and wet surface.
• Laptop, notebook or tablet if you would like to download and view your images during the trip (recommended).

The fine print (please read):

• The price for this weekend workshop includes accommodation (twin share). A Single Supplement is available on request. Note: The Single Supplement will be charged if no twin share accommodation can be arranged for you (we will try to match you with a roommate of the same gender).
• You will need to organise your own travel to and from Rottnest. This workshop begins at 2.30pm at the foyer of the Rottnest Lodge on Friday 23 August and finishes at 10.00am on Sunday 25 August.
• You will need to cover the cost of your own meals and refreshments.
• We will be exploring Rottnest on foot and via the island’s shuttle bus (for trips out to Geordie Bay). If you prefer riding, bicycle hire is available via the ferry operators or at Rottnest Island Bike Hire at your own cost.
• The workshop organisers reserve the right to change sessions, venue and locations during the workshop (subject to weather, access and availability).
• This is an Intermediate level workshop. It assumes that you are able to adjust your aperture, shutter speed and ISO in Manual Exposure mode on your camera.

Safety points (please read):

• You are fully responsible for your own safety and the safety of your equipment during the workshop, and should always observe your own health and safety first.
• Some photographic excursions may require physical travel on uneven or even wet surfaces such as trails and across rocky and sometimes slippery surfaces. You will need a good level of mobility and fitness in order to participate in this workshop.
• Each participant will be required to sign a standard waiver at the beginning of the workshop.

BOOK ME IN!

All bookings will incur a $100 non-refundable deposit to secure your accommodation at Rottnest. You may choose to pay the entire workshop fee up-front, or the deposit first with final payment by invoice due date.