Winner of International Garden Photography of the Year Macro Category 2021 

Highly Commended and Commended Square Crop Category 2021

Shortlisted Portfolio IGPOTY 2021

3rd place and Highly Commended Black and White Category 2022

1st Place and Commended. February 2023 IGPOTY Beauty of Plants category

Highly commended and 3 shortlisted images Black and White category 2023

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I have been running studio based botanical / macro workshops for about 10 years in Shropshire. Now I am in Scotland I have resumed these in a purpose built studio in my home.   

 

Botanical/macro workshop available from our home near Fort William, Scotland.

 

Studio based so not weather dependent. 

Price £160 for 1:2:1 or £80pp per day for two. 

Multiple days with accommodation and full board available - enquire for rates.

Dates by negotiation.

Email to discuss your requirements. 

 

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

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These events are for those who enjoy shooting botanical subjects or want to learn more about close-up and macro photography.

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Examples of cARterART botanical, macro and close-up photography can be seen here.

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The Workshops

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Each day starts with a comprehensive presentation and technical information. If you are having a 1:1 each day will be tailored around your needs. We then progress to taking images.

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Topics will include:

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• Composition for botanical photography

• Using natural and artificial light

• Exposing for creative imagery 

• Macro and/or close up photography - using the equipment you have but discovering and using the equipment I provide 

• Extension tubes - and other ways of getting closer

• Image aesthetics - what makes a good photograph

• Exploring different backdrops and learning how they make or break an image

• In-camera techniques to make images more interesting

• Low cost solutions for close-up photography

 

Advanced topics available on request:

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• Depth of field expansion (Focus Stacking)

• In camera double exposure

• ICM

• Getting the most from RAW and processing images using Photoshop

• NEW microscopy - using a microscope to photograph a whole new world invisible to the eye - this requires at least a half day.

• Flat lay photography

• Lensbaby Velvet. 

 

This workshop is designed to enable careful photography exploring the wonder and beauty of plants though techniques learnt can be applied to any subject. I want to encourage slowing down, taking the time to make a well-crafted photograph built from beautiful forms, your own emotional reactions, and studied composition. Attendees have gone on to have success in major competitions. 

 

Those interested in macro techniques will value the opportunity to photograph inside at table height, away from the wind. 

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Equipment:

 

Tripods are essential and can be borrowed if you don’t have one. If you have macro capability this is ideal but a longer zoom (up to 300mm) will give close-up shots. I will teach you how to use your current equipment creatively. I can let Canon users use a variety of my own lenses including macro and a Lensbaby Velvet 85mm. 

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Testimonials:

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Jan Curle " I thoroughly enjoyed the two-day macro photography workshop with you, Claire. I've learnt so much that when I apply the techniques correctly in future will improve my photography significantly. It was incredibly important having the 1:1 experience, enabling my specific weaknesses to be addressed. I hope to return and recommended highly to others."

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"Your workshop today was excellent, being fun, enjoyable with like-minded people and very informative. Thank you so much for all the time and effort involved in putting these on for us. It is great to keep learning, so that we can improve our photography skills. I will look forward to more courses in the future." Rose Finch

 

"Thanks again for such a superb day yesterday, I'd love to do it all over again."  SH

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