One of the biggest improvements in my photography came about when I attended a landscape photography workshop in Iceland in 2016. Simply reading books and blogs or watching tutorials is not enough to get you to improve, they can surely give you new ideas and can encourage you to experiment, but they are no substitute for attending a workshop. Putting all of the things you have learnt from these blogs, book and videos into practice when out and about helps you to really begin to understand how little you actually know, and how much more you can improve.
We all have a fear of using Manual mode when we first pick up a camera, and that for good reason, we don’t clearly understand the relationship between Shutter speed, aperture and ISO. If we click the shutter and end up with black screen, it is scary, and we have no idea what went wrong, of if the camera is broken. Eventually, through both practice and trial and error, we start to understand the important relationship between the 3 and how to use these to our advantage. You then begin to focus on getting your exposure right, then start to dabble with post processing and learn more about what makes a compelling images.
So what happens when you finally get to this stage? When you know the basics and consistently produce well exposed images? Well that’s when workshops can really help you to become more creative and focus on making more compelling images as opposed to just technically correct images. With a professional photographer to guide you, you will be able to step your learning up a gear and really start to improve.
It can take you a lot longer to identify and remedy an issue when you are out shooting alone. Having a professional photographer available to offer support and help you identify issues immediately will save time. Throughout your journey, there will be ups and downs, to persevere and succeed through these tough times take discipline and commitment.
Not convinced? Here are a couple of things to take into consideration:
It’s all about the Photography
The focus of a workshop is on getting the best possible light, this means that the workshop will be planned to ensure that you are always in the right place at the right time. This means very early starts to capture sunrise and late finishes if you are shooting sunset and even waiting out for the Northern Lights or the Milkyway.
This is the exact opposite of a family vacation or a normal tour, where you bring the camera along in hopes of sneaking some photography time, the problem is that this is generally in the middle of the day, with the worst possible light. A workshop is all about improving your photography. It is a few days with no other commitments, nothing else on your mind. Just you, your camera, and an amazing scene in front of you.
Coming back to the first thing I said in this blog, I am convinced that I learned more and grew more as a photographer in the 7 days that I was on that workshop than I had in the previous 6 months! Like everything else, practicing your art form for several hours every day, for several consecutive days, helps boost your learning curve.
Getting it right in camera
Having the support of a professional photographer on location is priceless! Having someone to discuss your photos and compositions with, before you get back to your computer means that you are more likely to leave the location with keepers. This is because having a second opinion can help you spot any small compositional errors (Distractions) which you haven’t picked up on or ensure you have captured the right exposures if you are planning to blend your images in post processing.
Meeting new people
Spending a week in an amazing location with a handful of other like-minded people is always a good thing. Each person brings their own unique perspectives, opinions and experiences and everyone learns from each other.
Spending so much time with a group of people with similar interests help you build relationships but also helps kick start your imagination, seeing what other are shooting and picking their brain to understand their thought process.
Knowing your camera inside out
Spending so much time with your camera will inevitably lead to you learning it inside and out, knowing how to change settings quickly to never miss a shot, but also navigating the camera controls in pitch dark is an extra bonus. Faffing around with filters and remotes becomes second nature and you will be able to save time and enjoy the experience more, there is nothing more frustrating than missing a shot because you take too long to change your settings or too long to get your filters on the camera.
Fall in love with landscapes again
Being with like-minded people who are all motivated and excited about shooting is infectious and rubs off on you. If you feel too tired to get out of your cosy bed in the morning to shoot sunrise, the other people in the group will help convince you. When you are out alone, it can be very tough to stay motivated and make the effort, time after time.
It’s all too easy to skip a couple of sessions when the locations are local to you, and you have been there countless times, but being in a new location which is unexplored fuels you to go out and get the shots!
Easy and hassle free
Attending a photography workshop is easy and hassle free. Everything is planned and organised for you, so you don’t need to worry about months of research and planning, booking of accommodations / rental cars / tickets to national parks. You also don’t have to worry about getting to locations, your guide will know the locations you are visiting very well, and will have been to those locations previously, so they can guide you to the best spots, especially when the light changes so quickly.
Shooting a different type of image
Generally speaking, your portfolio is probably full of similar looking images, these are usually from locations close to where you live, and locations which are easy to access. A great example of this is if you live in Malta, which is an island, the probability is that your shots are predominantly seascapes and include the sea. In Malta, we don’t have mountains, rivers or waterfalls, so travelling to places like Iceland or the Dolomites will give you a set of images different to what you are used to shooting.
Should I attend a workshop?
Before attending my first workshop I was very hesitant. I wasn't really sure what to expect, what it was all about, if I would actually learn something and if it is worth the money, as let’s face it, workshops are not cheap.
One thing that really played on my mind when I was deciding whether or not to attend a workshop, was whether I was ‘good enough' at to attend a workshop. It sounds silly, but there were doubts in my mind that I would be knowledgeable enough to even know what was going on.
The doubts were because I would be travelling over 4000 kilometers to spend a week taking photos with a group of total strangers. Seems odd doesn’t it? I think the most important thing to keep in mind is that this is not a competition. Everyone is there to improve their photography and learn new things. It’s a great opportunity to practice and learn from our own mistakes; to make new friends; and to learn from each other.
There’s more than just shooting
This might sound strange, a photography workshop is not just about taking photos? That’s correct, apart form the fun you have with a group of people, you also get time to discuss post processing if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
This, to me, is what the photography workshop is all about. Don't discount the social aspect and the importance of meeting new friends that have the same passion for photography as you. You may be a shy and introverted person (believe me, I fit right into that category), but when you step outside your comfort zone, great things can happen.
What are you waiting for?
A landscape photography workshop might just be the next big step you need to take to improve your landscape photography. If you have been thinking about going on a photography workshop, or if reading this blog made you want to attend a workshop, just go for it. Considering the amount of money we spend on gear, which doesn’t necessarily give us better photos (But that is the subject for a whole new blog), a workshop is a worthwhile investment in your photography journey.
This blog is not a plug for my own workshops, far from it, I would have written this blog even if I did not organise my own workshops, and the reason is that I have attended a workshop and first hand seen the benefits it had on my photography.
There are a huge number of photography workshops available, to pretty much any popular landscape photography destination. Workshops vary from a single day workshop up to 2 weeks in duration, with different prices to fit different budgets. Just make sure you do your homework before booking and ensure it is exactly what you are looking for.
What are you waiting for? Book a workshop now and you won’t regret it!