‘An Introduction to Nature Photography’ Workshop with Brad Carr in The Great Wood, Gregynog Hall
Are you new to the world of landscape and Nature photography and looking for a kickstart along your journey? Do you get overwhelmed with frustration any time you try to understand the settings that work your camera?
If so, then this intensive practical Nature photography workshop in the grounds of the wonderful Gregynog Hall here in Mid Wales is for you.
Join me, Brad Carr, for a full day of adventure and exploration around The Great Wood; land of some legendary ancient oak trees, as we dive deep into the fundamentals of the art of photography.
During this intensive day, we will look to familiarise you with the fundamentals of your camera and its' settings, so that it can become an extension of you and bridge the gap between your inner world and the outer world. This is a very important step along your creative journey and it is important that you get the entry-level phase of photography right, as you will then be free to let your inspiration and intuition lead the way. Once you have mastered the basics of your camera, the world will be your oyster as you express yourself to your hearts content, and explore with curiosity and child-like wonder.
We will spend the first part of the day indoors, where I will deliver a short talk and presentation, and deliver some important theoretical information that we will then put into practice during the practical session in The Great Wood, which will take up 7.5 hours of our day.
As well as familiarising yourself with the camera, you will also be encouraged to explore your own connection with Mother Nature through conversation as we look to further develop your knowledge of the camera, and understand how it can help to deepen this connection and provide you with a further sense of belonging here on the earth.
Teas and coffee will be provided during the morning session, and we will take a break for lunch that will also be provided by Gregynog Hall.
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You will learn how to take full control of your camera and shoot in manual mode.
You will have a better understanding of the exposure triangle as we simplify aperture, shutter speed and ISO in a fun and practical way.
You will learn how to combine the camera settings for different creative effects.
There will be some photography challenges throughout the morning which will see you navigating a range of problems to get your shots.
We may touch upon some basics of composition and light in photography, depending on the progress and understanding of the group as a collective.
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Suitable footwear and clothing.
Your choice of hot drink and snacks. We will stop for some breaks which will allow us to refresh and give you a chance to ask any questions.
Camera, selection of lenses and a manual.
Spare batteries & SD cards.
Tripod - not essential but recommended (I have some spares if needed).
Waterproof camera case/ large sandwich bag and elastic band in case it rains.
Raincoat & waterproof trousers recommended.
Notepad & pen.
Personal & equipment insurance if desired as these won’t be provided by Brad Carr Ltd.
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A sense of community. We all need that at the moment, don’t we? The last couple of years have been tough. What could be better than a relaxing, meditative walk in nature with likeminded people, sharing stories and creating beautiful photographs?
You will receive an invitation to my exclusive, closed group on Facebook where you can continue your learning and network with other likeminded photographers.
Increase your knowledge of and familiarity with your camera and learn some of the basics that will allow you to go out and create a photograph.
Photography can be so much more than just a hobby. For me, it has been a form of therapy, it’s increased my level of self-awareness and helped me to connect to this planet that I call my home. I hope that by attending a photography workshop with me, you might be tempted to walk along a similar path and continue with your learning.
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This will be an intensive, 9 hour day, with a 30 minute coffee break in the morning and a 60 minute lunch break at 12.30pm.
We will spend the first 1.5 hours indoors, learning some important theory which we will then go and put into practice outdoors in The Great Wood.
TESTIMONIALS
“I enjoyed how relaxed the atmosphere was. I enjoyed the laughs we had and how nice everyone was. I enjoyed that everything was backed up with practice, no dry learning with theory only. I liked that you gave us some tips based on your experience and your photography style. I liked that we all received some 1-1 time, that you helped us to figure out how to use our cameras, provided feedback and challenges. I liked that all questions were answered and none were treated as dumb questions. I also appreciated the honesty and the fact that you didn’t try to pretend to be someone else and that you weren’t afraid to admit when you didn’t know something or didn’t know an answer to a question.”
“Brad’s style of teaching is that of a coach that wants to help you get the best out of your own vision and art. This is not about telling you what to do, it is about asking you to think about why you are taking that particular picture and how you might improve it. This is for those who really want to take their photography to a new level of meaning and thinking. I made me realise that the most important part of the experience is to be out in nature and to try and use my photography to share the benefits of how this makes me feel.”
Golden rays of light over Gregynog Hall in Tregynon, Mid Wales.
A little about The Great Wood at Gregynog Hall.
Roam this hidden world of fascinating ancient oak trees; some of which have been standing beside the hall for over 300 years. The woodland is a designated SSSI due to some of the rare lichens that can be found growing on the trees. The entire 750 acre site that houses the woodland was recently awarded a status of National Nature Reserve making it one of Wales’ most important sites for ancient parkland and wood-pasture habitats, veteran trees, and nationally important lichens, insects, and other wildlife, supported by these rare habitats. The grounds are home to a once shortlisted tree of the year; an ancient oak that is believed to have sprung from an acorn during the reign of Henry VIII.
The woodland is split into two sections, both containing an abundance of spectacular oak trees. A pathway navigates through the woodland, spanning around a mile in length with a small incline that leads to the most beautiful viewpoint of this charming valley.
The conditions that I have witnessed in this woodland over the past six months have been nothing short of magical. I spent a lot of time scouting it hard through the late summer and autumn months and I ended up getting to know the area intimately, resulting in some of my best pieces of work so far. With any luck, some of the gorgeous atmosphere might be waiting for us on our workshop.
Investment - £85
Duration - 9 hours
Hike Difficulty - 1/5