Landscape photography courses Northumberland

Maximum five photographers per course...no room sharing...no single supplement

Advanced Landscape Photography Course - Northumberland 2008 & 2009		Golden Light at Bamburgh by Neil Bryce

Dates: September 2nd - 5th, 2008 (fully booked) March 10th - 13th, 2009 (fully booked) June 16th - 19th, 2009 (fully booked) September 29th - October 2nd, 2009 Location: Northumberland coastline and Cheviot Hills Cost: £745 (£695 if booked before Christmas 2008) Cost includes: Four days of one-to-one and group tuition. Three nights accommodation with no shared rooms and no single supplement, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. Transport to locations. Comprehensive course notes plus follow-up email and telephone advice. Start/Finish: The course starts at 7pm on Tuesday and finishes at 5pm on Friday Deposit: £100 per person Group size: Maximum 5 photographers Fitness level: A reasonable level of fitness is required as most locations involve walks, some over uneven ground and a limited amount uphill. Longest walk two miles with stops for photography along the way. None of the walking is strenuous Equipment needed: Digital SLR camera; tripod; walking boots; waterproof clothing Where we stay: Brunton House, near Embleton

	Click here for full outline of the course
	Click here for images made on previous courses
	Click here for questions about the course
	Click here for feedback from photographers
	Click here to learn about the leader
	Click here to see where we stay (off-site link)

FULL OUTLINE OF THE COURSE

THIS DIGITAL DAWN Advanced Landscapes Course concentrates specifically on the creative side of landscape photography, with the emphasis being to separate the seeing and making of an image from the technical aspects of taking a photograph.

The course is based along the spectacular Northumberland coastline. Whenever you are on the edge of the weather the opportunity for superb photographic light increases, and a dramatic change in the weather is always more likely at the coast. This is one of the main reasons why The Digital Dawn runs courses along this superb shoreline and when you add some of Britain's finest sunrise and sunset locations it means Northumberland can provide memorable light for truely rewarding landscape photography.

This is a coastline of broad beaches and bays backed by huge golden dunes. It is also steeped in centuries of border conflict and that historic legacy remains in the spectacular castles that dominate the east-facing shore. These fortresses provide the ideal focal point around which to build landscape images that capture the great sense of space and openness that makes Northumberland unique.

The four-day Advanced Landscapes Course has been designed so the maximum group size is just five photographers, whereas some courses can have 10 or more. This means you'll receive a high level of in-depth one-to-one tuition while enjoying the chance to make images at the stunning locations of Bamburgh, Holy Island and Dunstanburgh, plus the beautiful beaches at Embleton Bay and Budle Bay.

The course begins with a dinner hosted by the leader, professional landscape photographer Garry Brannigan, followed by a lecture where he explains the image-making process behind some of his favourite photographs and outlines what we'll cover during the following three full days of tuition and photography. Depending on the time of year, there'll also be the opportunity for shoots at dawn and dusk during your stay, and evening sessions where we review the day's images. Garry will also give a critique of images you have brought along.

On this advanced course we slow down the whole image-making process, leaving the camera bag unopened at first to give ourselves the time to enjoy tuning into the landscape before deciding how the response we get from it can best be communicated to others through strong yet simple compositions. It means we'll be exploring in depth one of the biggest challenges the landscape photographer faces, ie: how to successfully transfer what's been seen in three dimensions by the human eye into a two-dimensional photographic image.

The mind's-eye interpretation of the landscape can be very different from how the camera truthfully records the scene, warts and all. Often the grandeur or beauty of what you thought you saw can be disappointing when the camera converts it into two dimensions. So this course teaches you how to develop skills that enable you to override your mind's-eye and build images with depth and perspective.

To succeed, your images should have impact from bottom to top, so you'll learn how to find a strong foreground that will lead the viewer into the image and then build up a composition that keeps their interest throughout. Here we'll consider the underlying foundations of composition, striving to achieve a sense of balance and proportion within the frame.

The majority of our time is spent out on location and because this is a structured course rather than a photographic tour you'll have plenty of time at each location to explore its full potential.

The next section shows you how to concentrate on finding a composition that captures the essence or mood of your subject, rather than merely the objects within it. Your photography will become a lot more productive and enjoyable once you begin to avoid the rut of just turning up and taking a record shot. You'll gain an understanding of how crucial it is to consider what to leave out of a composition. Some of the best landscape images have the important quality of simplicity, using strong shapes, colour and textures to achieve clarity. To succeed, your images should have impact from bottom to top and you'll learn how to find a strong foreground that will lead the viewer into the image and then build up a composition that will keep their interest throughout.

Following this we examine how all of the above wouldn't be possible without an appreciation of the crucial role the light plays in landscape photography. It brings structure, texture and depth to the landscape and you will learn how to anticipate that light and how to make the most of it.

Other subjects covered include pre-visualising an image, working out the best time of the year and at what time of the day a particular scene will look its best. And we also look at ways to make your landscape photography an enjoyable year-round pursuit and how not to be put off by bad weather.

During the course we'll be staying at Brunton House, a beautiful Victorian country house surrounded by uninterrupted views of Northumberland farmland with a glimpse of the sea. The house is set within its own secluded gardens and is ideally situated for our course with excellent locations right on the doorstep, including Embleton Bay, the haunting ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster.

The Advanced Landscapes Course costs £745. This includes four days of one-to-one and group tuition plus three nights' accommodation with no shared rooms and no single supplement, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. Transport to the locations is also included plus comprehensive course notes and follow-up telephone and email advice.

Click here to see where we stay (off-site link)

If you would like to check availability or find out more about the tuition, accommodation and the locations we visit, Call Garry Brannigan on 01748 821041 or |

back to navigation | top

IMAGES MADE ON PREVIOUS NORTHUMBERLAND COURSES

Seahouses Reflection, Northumberland by Mark Saunders

Turning Tide, Craster, Northumberland by Bruce Taylor

Purple Shade, Brunton House, Northumberland by Shelagh Wooster

Last Light, Budle Bay, Northumberland by Jane Collins

Hidden Depths, Embleton Bay, Northumberland by Melanie Bell

Green & Blacks, Bamburgh, Northumberland by Matt Bell

Golden Dawn, Bamburgh, Northumberland by Brian Clark

Flower & Flight, Brunton House, Northumberland by Shelagh Wooster

Dunstanburgh Dawn, Northumberland by Neil Bryce

Curve to the Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland by Eyal Zarrad

Castle and Keel, Lindisfarne, Northumberland by Jonathan Gurney

Burning Clouds, Beadnell Bay, Northumberland by Eyal Zarrad

Bite out of Beach, Embleton Bay, Northumberland by Ken Dickenson

Before The Dawn, Dunstanburgh, Northumberland by David Jenkins

Bamburgh Sunrise, Northumberland by Tad Moyseowicz

back to navigation | top

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS COURSE

Why should I choose a Digital Dawn course?

Perhaps the main reason is that our group size is never more than five photographers, whereas some photographic courses and workshops can have 10 or more. This smaller group size means you receive a larger amount of personal in-depth tuition out on location. It also means we can visit more varied locations and have more elbow room when we get there. Also, course leader Garry Brannigan will not be using your time making his own images. All his time out on location is spent alongside photographers giving them one-to-one tuition. It's a combination that has proved successful and a large proportion of photographers return for additional courses at a different location. Some are now on their third or fourth course.

What makes it an advanced course?

The presumption on this advanced course is that you already understand the fundamentals of photography (ie: depth of field, exposure and focus) and you also have a good grasp of how to use your digital camera in terms of white balance, ISO settings and reading the histogram. The emphasis is entirely on the creative and compositional side of landscape photography with the vast majority of the time spent out on location. Although there's no technical element to the tuition, there's always a great deal of discussion amongst the group about all aspects of photography, including experiences with the latest equipment and imaging software.

What equipment do I need?

You will need a digital SLR with wide angle and telephoto lenses, plus a sturdy tripod. Neutral density graduated filters and a polariser are not essential but will have a significant impact on the quality of your images. Please contact us if you would like advice on buying filters before the course.

How long is each day and how much time do we have at each location?

Photography and the landscape come first, so our daily routine is determined by the time of year. We pack as much photography into the day as possible, so it's not just nine-to-five. There will be the opportunity for shoots at dawn or dusk and in some months it's possible to do both, weather permitting. Meal times fit round the photography. We'll also review the images made during the course and have informal critique sessions of images you have brought along. Because this is a structured course rather than a photo tour rushing from one location to another, you'll have the time to explore and enjoy each location's full potential.

What will the locations be like?

All the locations have been carefully researched beforehand so you arrive at the right time of the day to make the most of the available light. You'll be photographing the bigger vistas and because of our small group size we'll visit the more intimate locations as well.

How fit do I need to be?

This Northumberland course involves walking away from the road, mostly on well-developed paths with a small amount of walking uphill. The longest walk is about two miles with stops for photography along the way. Because of the nature of coastal locations, some of the ground is uneven.

What will the other people be like?

You will be joining an enthusiastic group of mainly individuals with a wide range of ages. Because The Digital Dawn concentrates solely on landscape photography, you will be able to enjoy the company of like-minded photographers who share your appreciation and enjoyment of the landscape.

back to navigation | top

FEEDBACK FROM PHOTOGRAPHERS

The small size of the group increased the opportunity to benefit from a good deal of one-to-one tuition with the leader. This, coupled with stunning locations and a passion for the landscape displayed by Garry, made for another fantastic course.
KEITH WHITING, Advanced Course October 2007

Initially I thought that the course was expensive, but putting it into perspective I realise that Garry Brannigan's experience, knowledge, insight and what he puts into the course are priceless.
GRAHAM MEEK, Advanced Course October 2007

As with my previous course, I did think I was the most inexperienced of the group but the tuition was tailored fully to what I needed to learn. The small group helped in that aspect. I came away understanding a lot more about the process of finding and photographing the subject, given the various light conditions. The guidance on filter use was also very helpful.
MARY MACKENZIE, Advanced Course October 2007

The itinerary was planned with precision, so that every moment was maximized. The fact that there were only five photographers means you get value for money. The hand-picked locations were superb.
KEN TREVOR, Advanced Course October 2007

I valued the leader's calm and patient explanations and advice. Although I have taken many pictures in the past, I wanted guidance on composing images and that is exactly what I got.
BILL TAYLOR, Advanced Course October 2007

What I appreciated most was having the time to explore a location. I liked the way that the leader would tour the group advising individually on composition, so that we had time to discuss our intended shots. The days were quite intense, but well-paced. I left wanting more, but arrived home very tired, so I guess that means the course timetable was right.
GORDON GIBBONS, Advanced Course October 2007

Garry’s approach is very encouraging. This was my second course and again I came away inspired to create more images. The locations were great and varied for use in all conditions. The proof is in the pudding...I have half a dozen images I’m very happy with.
MARK SAUNDERS, Advanced Course October 2007

back to navigation | top

ABOUT THE LEADER

Garry Brannigan concentrates solely on landscape photography using a digital camera system and has a passion for photographing the unique landscape of Northumberland in the best possible light. He is a founder member of the Foursight Exhibition Group and exhibits his images throughout the North.

Garry designed his courses and workshops to pass on to other photographers his enthusiasm for capturing the moment when light, however fleeting, transforms the landscape from being merely distinctive into something beautiful. Since establishing The Digital Dawn, photographers from around the world have joined him out on location learning how to create images that say as much about themselves as they do about the landscape.

Click here for a gallery
of Garry's images

If you would like to check availability or find out more about the tuition, accommodation and the locations we visit, Call Garry Brannigan on 01748 821041 or |