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Macro2Print: Yorkshire Meadows


ALL INCLUSIVE!

Location

Northallerton (various Yorkshire locations visited)

Date

21st - 27th July 2024
Join Waiting List

Price

£1690 (£590 Deposit)

Max. Group Size

4

What's Included?

6-night's Accommodation
Breakfast, lunch, evening meals and drinks
Tuition by Mark
Loan of Mark's lenses, filters/accessories
All transport provided by Mark throughout the workshop

What's Excluded?

- Travel Insurance
(or use form below)

Macro2Print: Yorkshire Meadows

21st - 27th July 2024
ALL INCLUSIVE!
Join Waiting List

Details

Centrally based in Northallerton near my home, this exciting all-inclusive five-day (6-night) project-based workshop will find us in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors - creatively photographing Yorkshire Meadows and what we find in them. Not only will we be photographing the many wildflowers and plants, but if the weather is kind, we will also photograph butterflies, damselflies and other insects - all with an eye to fine art. You will be required to bring a macro lens, and I will also have a range of Lensbaby creative lenses, which you may use on my camera for a more soft, painterly look. With help from me, part of this workshop will be to identify the subjects you shoot to build up a narrative for adding to your prints. 

At selected points throughout the workshop, we will process some of the images you took in my home studio. Here, I will discuss the techniques I use to glean the best out of the image to create mood, atmosphere and delicacy (where appropriate) using Lightroom Classic software on my 27" iMac computer. As part of this process, we will discuss and I will demonstrate how to create beautiful A3 fine-art giclee prints (three per person) for you to take home - presented in a beautiful book with a narrative to which you can add more prints at your leisure.

This workshop will suit those who wish to understand an holistic approach to fine art photography from capture to print using macro lenses.

Creative Macro: Wildflowers and Plants

Wildflowers such as Oxeye Daisy, Red Clover, Buttercup, Field Poppy and Yellow Rattle all make interesting subjects in Yorkshire meadows when shooting macro. Larger plants such as Hog-weed, Wild Carrot and Common Bistort create an ethereal feel, particularly if there's a perfectly placed insect vying for attention. Grasses such as Common Couch, Tufted Hair-grass and Rough-stalked Meadow-grass not only create soft backgrounds but can also make delicate subjects in themselves.

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Creative Macro: Butterflies and insects

Look a little closer, and you'll see a different world lurking in the shadows of meadows - all of which make fabulous subjects for creative macro photography. Butterflies such as Red Admiral, Comma, Small Copper, Common Blue, Fritillary and Peacock are all residents in Yorkshire meadows. Dragonflies, Common blue Damselflies and Emerald Spreadwing also make great subjects as well as many other insects.

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Creative Macro: Trees 

Macro lenses can also be used creatively on larger subjects such as trees that adorn many Yorkshire meadows such as these at Studley Roger - a location we will visit.

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Accommodation

You will be based at a beautiful hotel in Northallerton - a stone's throw from my home (recently opened in 2020). All rooms are double or king size with ensuite bathrooms. You may check in any time after 3 pm. Full hotel details and joining instructions will be sent before the start of the workshop.

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Itinerary

Day 1 - 5 pm: I will collect you from the hotel and bring you to my home (five minutes away) for introductions, check camera settings and discuss the week's format in more detail. We will have drinks and a prepared evening meal before returning you to the hotel later in the evening.

Day 2 - 9:30 after breakfast: Using my vehicle, we will head into Swaledale for the day, exploring and photographing in the many beautiful meadows - all with a creative eye to macro photography. Here, we will discuss subject matter and composition and experiment with different soft-focus lenses, which you may borrow from me to try (Images you take with my camera and lenses will be sent to you at the end of the workshop).  We will also find ourselves in a wonderful wooded copse where we will use Macro lenses for the bigger picture. Later in the day, we will return to my home for drinks and a prepared two-course evening meal before returning you to the hotel for the night.

Day 3 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): I will drive you to one of many wetlands throughout the area, where we will use our creativity on different plants and foliage. if the weather is favourable, this location will also be where we can photograph butterflies and other insects. I will be on hand throughout the day to demonstrate some of the techniques I use to photograph images of butterflies and other insects - all with an ethereal, fine art feel. Later in the day, we will return to my home for drinks and a prepared two-course evening meal before returning you to the Village Inn for the night.

Day 4 - 5 am pre-breakfast shoot: I will collect you from the hotel and drive you to a secluded nature reserve on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, where we will photograph Damselflies and Dragonflies whilst they roost. At this time of the day, the light is soft and the insects less active - the perfect combination for ethereal images. You will also be able to experiment with some of Mark's Lensbaby lenses (and keep whatever images you take of course). At around 8 am, my wife will arrive and serve breakfast al-fresco! allowing us to continue photographing afterwards to take advantage of the warm light.

Day 4 - 12 midday: We will return to my home where we will serve a light lunch. I will then drop you off at the hotel for a few hour's rest.

Day 4 - 4 pm: I will collect you from the hotel and bring you to my studio at home, where we will start processing some of the images you have created using Adobe Lightroom Classic on my 27" iMac computer. At around 6:30 pm, we will have drinks and a prepared evening meal before dropping you off at the hotel.

Day 5 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): I will drive you to Studley Roger near Fountain's Abbey, where we will photograph trees in the deer park using macro and Lensbaby lenses creatively.

Day 5 - 2 pm: After lunch (packed lunch & drinks provided), we will head to a secluded meadow on the North York Moors to photograph butterflies and wildflowers. Mid-evening, we will return to my home for a prepared evening meal before returning you to the hotel for the night.

Day 6 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): Studio-based; I will collect and bring you back to my home, where we will process a further selection of your images. After lunch, we will then discuss fine art giclee printing - including the use of paper profiles, soft-proofing (and what it means), choice of paper (and why it matters) and printing to a professional standard. You will also witness my "first time, every time" approach to fine art printing, which will save time and the expense of wasted ink and paper many times over. You will leave with at least three beautiful A3 giclee prints of your pictures - and sound knowledge of my holistic approach to macro photography from picture to print. At around 6:30 pm, we will have drinks and a prepared evening meal before dropping you off at the hotel.

Day 7 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): Workshop ends (we will drop you back off at the hotel to check out).

Please note: Inclement weather plays its role in creative photography, too - softening the light and creating water droplets on petals and leaves. However, this is when butterflies and insects are less active. I cannot, therefore, guarantee photographing them during the workshop. We will have plenty of other subject choices, though! The above itinerary is only an example, and I reserve the right to change it in part or as a whole to ensure I get you to the best locations for the best photography.

Camera Equipment

Here is a list of recommended equipment you should bring…

  • Camera body 
  • At least two camera batteries
  • A macro lens
  • If you own any old vintage or creative Lensbaby lenses, please bring these with you.
  • Tripod
  • Lens cloth
  • Polarising filter (definitely optional - you may borrow mine when required)
  • A small kneeling mat as you'll be working on your knees a lot of the time.
  • A Wimberley Plamp for holding flowers steady (definitely optional - you may borrow mine when required)
  • A torch (useful for illuminating grasses and insects from below)

Clothing 

  • Outdoor clothing suitable for photographing at this time of year
  • Waterproof coat in case of rain
  • Walking shoes/boots
  • Umbrella - a black umbrella can be useful as a parasol to eliminate harsh light (Any other colour can end up creating a colour-cast on your subject)

Fitness Level - Easy | Moderate | Challenging

The fitness level for this workshop is classed as easy as all locations have been carefully selected for their stunning views, safety, convenience and ease of access. However, due to their locations, this workshop is unsuitable for wheelchair users. The meadow on the North York Moors is around a mile walk on a steady (but not steep) incline. All walks will be easy-going and not rushed.

Getting there

By Road

There is a good road network to Northallerton - I will send hotel details nearer the time.

By Rail

Northallerton is conveniently situated on the East-Coast rail line. Mark will be happy to collect and return you from/to Northallerton station with prior arrangement. Please get in touch.

By Plane

Teesside airport is only a 35-minute drive from Mark's home. Mark will be happy to collect and return you from/to Teesside airport with prior arrangement. Please get in touch.

Booking/Enquiry Form

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Please use this booking/enquiry form or email Mark: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Terms & Conditions of booking

Payment must be made in full when booking a single day workshop (you will be sent an invoice). For residential workshops, a deposit of £500 is required (unless otherwise stated) and the balance is payable 12 weeks before the course commences.

The balance of the cost of the workshop will be due 12 weeks before the workshop starts. If a booking is made less than 12 weeks prior to the beginning of the workshop, the full cost is payable at the time of booking.

If you, the client, cancel a booking any money you have paid (including the deposit) is non-refundable unless I can find a replacement to take your place after all other places have been filled. If a replacement is found an admin fee of £100 will be deducted from the refund. If I cancel a booking any payment received will be refunded in full. Please ensure that you have adequate travel insurance in place. It is a term of the contract between us that you will obtain the appropriate travel insurance cover before you set out on the workshop. The insurance must cover the loss, expenses and damages arising from, including but not limited to, the cancellation of the workshop (whether in whole or in part), personal accident and injury, medical and repatriation costs, loss of baggage and personal money and belongings, flight cancellations and delays as well as your inability to arrive at the workshop destination due to fuel shortages and other such disruptions out of my control.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, I regret I cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of my obligations under my contract with you is prevented or affected by or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature as a result of “force majeure”. In these booking conditions, “force majeure” means any event which I or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include, (whether actual or threatened), war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire, epidemics/pandemics, fuel shortages and all similar events outside my control.

Please note, I cannot accept any liability for any damage, loss, expense or other sum(s) of any description (1) which on the basis of the information given to me by you concerning your booking prior to me accepting it, I could not have foreseen you would suffer or incur if I breached the contract with you or (2) which did not result from any breach of contract or other fault by myself where I am responsible for them, my suppliers. Additionally, I cannot accept liability for any business losses.

You will be allocated either a single room or a double/twin room for single occupancy. There is no single occupancy surcharge. Where double or twin rooms are available, they will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis at the time of check-in.

Mark Banks Photography reserves the right to cancel any workshop. In the event of any cancellation, I will offer either a total refund or a place on an alternative workshop. If the alternative workshop is cheaper, I will refund the difference, and if it is more expensive, you will be required to pay the balance.

All applicants participate at their own risk and Mark Banks Photography accepts no responsibility for injury or damage done to their persons or property. It is recommended that applicants hold their own personal Public Liability Insurance.

The type of workshops I offer require flexibility and must allow for alternatives. For this reason, the outline itinerary and workshop description must be taken as an indication of what may take place on the workshop, and not as a contractual obligation on the part of Mark Banks Photography.

I do not accept responsibility or liability for death, bodily injury or illness caused to you during the workshop, unless arising from the negligent act and/or omission on my part or on the part of any of my employees (providing they were at the time acting within the course of their employment). Please note that any itinerary noted on the workshop description is subject to change due to weather conditions and/or the capability of participants.

By booking a workshop with Mark Banks Photography you are agreeing to accept all of the above conditions.

(or use form below)

Testimonials

I just wanted to say thank you for a great workshop in Glencoe, despite the weather! You are an excellent workshop leader with a high degree of professionalism, a methodical approach to landscape photography and the ability to adapt your teaching to your clients and the weather.

~ Fiona M


Thank you so much for such an inspirational day yesterday and for all your patience! I love my prints, thank you! I felt as though I achieved what I had set out to do and learn the principles of printing and look forward to giving things a go myself.

~ Geoff K


Hi Mark, Just a note to thank you again for such a wonderful week in so many respects. I so enjoyed the locations and the photography. Lots to process and think about again and some new exciting things to try. Your tuition and attention to detail is much appreciated and I always feel inspired again to get out with my camera. See you before too long in Yorkshire.

~ Anne W

"Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn."

Benjamin Franklin

“Mark Banks is quite simply one of the best teachers of photography I have ever met. His secret is an apparently endless supply of patience, and an acute analytical approach to developing systematic problem-solving tactics in photography, which he makes effortless and fun to learn, whether in the field or in the editing suite. Mark’s artistry, empathy, kindness and charm mean he is always a joy to work with, or to be taught by.”

Joe Cornish
Professional Landscape Photographer