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Lens and Landscapes: South West Photography Weekend

A weekend of light, life, and the land through the lens!


Instructor: Seng Mah
Level: Intermediate
Dates: 22 – 24 August 2025
Location: Dunsborough
Cost: $780 (This price is for the workshop only. If you are visiting the WA South West, you’ll need to arrange your own accommodation in or near Dunsborough).
Number of participants: 6 to 8


Join us for an immersive weekend photography retreat in the breathtaking South West of Western Australia — a landscape rich with towering rugged coastlines, babbling brooks, towering karri forests, and soft, shifting light. Lens and Landscapes is designed for photographers looking to deepen their creative vision and technical skill, whether you’re just starting out or ready to push your boundaries.

Over two days, we’ll explore the interplay between people and place — capturing both sweeping natural vistas and emotive, location-based portraiture. You’ll learn how to compose powerful frames, master long exposure techniques, and work with natural light to create mood and depth. We’ll also focus on placing figures within landscapes to tell layered visual stories and elevate your photographic narrative.

More than just taking photos, this weekend retreat is about learning to see — to slow down, notice light, and compose with intention. Through guided shoots, collaborative learning, on-hand mentoring, and gentle, perceptive moments behind the lens, you’ll come away with stronger images, clearer vision, and a deeper connection to the art of photography.

This retreat is for anyone who wants to get more intentional with their photography. Whether you’re just starting out or wanting to push your creative edge, you’ll be guided through a mix of field shoots, thoughtful discussions, and time to simply pause and notice what’s around you.

Bring your gear, your curiosity, and your creative eye — and let the South West reshape the way you see the world.


Photography in the South West of WA

The landscape of the South West is a photographer’s feast of rocky coasts, hidden coves, deep forests and raging seas. From the sculpted coasts ofCape Naturaliste and the wild swell at Canal Rocks, to the towering karri trees of Boranup Forest and the calm beauty of Kevill Road Falls, this region offers an incredible variety of landscapes to explore through your lens.

It is all about developing your eye for landscape photography as we shoot on location and work with you to refine your approach to making images in one of WA’s most diverse and stunning environments. You’ll develop a deep appreciation of the key elements that make visually powerful photographs.

Learning in the field means developing practical, real-world skills. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to see the landscape, how light and shadow shape what you capture, and how to translate what you feel into the images you make.


WHAT YOU WILL NEED
  • A DSLR or mirrorless camera.
  • Wide angle and telephoto lenses; typically, lenses that cover the range from 14mm – 200mm if you are shooting full frame, or 10mm – 200mm if you’re shooting crop frame. Micro 4/3 camera users should look at lenses in the 8mm – 100mm range. Feel free to ask questions about your lenses in the comments section of the booking form below.
  • A strong and stable tripod that will let you adjust the position of the camera on the tripod quickly and easily.
  • A circular polarising (CPL) filter.
  • To get the most out of the practical segment of this workshop, you’ll need at least a mid-density neutral density (ND) filter:
    • 5 stop (ND32) or 6 stop (ND64) filter
    • Optional: 10 stop (ND1000) filter for ultra-long exposures.
  • A circular polariser
  • A remote shutter release (we recommend a simple cable release).
  • Microfibre cloth and lens cleanser (we will be shooting close to the ocean so there may be some sea spray in the air)
  • Wet weather gear for your camera eg. a plastic bag to shield your camera from rain or sea spray.

The practical segments of this workshop will be run at coastal, riverside and forest locations in the South West, so please dress accordingly for the weather (sunscreen, hat, shoes with good grip).


THE FINE PRINT
  • You will need to organise your own travel to and from Dunsborough and the photographic locations during the retreat.
  • You will need to cover the cost of your own meals and refreshments.
  • This workshop runs from 4pm on Friday until 9am on Sunday.
  • 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 on your camera and are already familiar with shooting in Raw image format. You should also be already familiar with shooting in Aperture Priority or Manual Exposure Modes.

SAFETY GUIDELINES

Your safety is our concern, but it is your own responsibility, so please read the following safety points that will give you a better picture of the types of terrain we will be exploring at this retreat:

  • 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 will require physical travel on uneven or even wet surfaces such as trails and across rocky and sometimes uneven or slippery surfaces. You will need a good level of mobility and reasonable level of fitness in order to participate in this workshop. You should only go as far as you feel comfortable and safe and avoid taking risks that may lead to injury.

RESERVE YOUR PLACE

Complete and submit the form below to reserve your place in this weekend workshop. For information on refunds and late cancellations, please refer to our Workshops Terms and Conditions.

    Full name (required)

    Email (required)

    Telephone (required)

    Brand and model of your camera:

    Any questions/comments: