If you're looking to hone your compositional skills over a variety of outdoor genres, this 3-day (2 night) workshop is just for you! Based near my home in North Yorkshire, we will photograph a wide mixture of subjects during the day and night.

Starting in the beautiful city of York, we will arrive after dark and work through to midnight to explore this fascinating location. We shall explore the many streets, ginnels, courtyards and snickleways that York is so famous for including the majestic York Minster and the Shambles - one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe.

After breakfast the following day, we will head into the Yorkshire Dales, starting with Cauldron Falls in Wensleydale, a beautiful waterfall set within a natural amphitheatre which looks stunning at this time of the year due to the surrounding autumn foliage. We will then head for Dentdale to photograph the beautiful Dent Viaduct before heading for Ribblesdale, where we will photograph the vast swaithes of limestone pavement, lone trees and, of course, the famous Ribblehead Viaduct - all with the beautiful backdrops of Inglebrorough and Whernside (2 of the Yorkshire 3 peaks).

The final morning will find us at Hawnby Hill, an iconic landmark on the edge of the North York Moors for a pre-breakfast shoot. After breakfast, we will visit my favourite woodland in North Yorkshire on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Here, we will photograph beautiful beech trees for late autumn colour and possibly even soft mist which is common here at this time of year due to its high elevation. 

Of course, I'll be on hand throughout the entire workshop to discuss composition in detail as well as practical camera skills.

Post-Processing

As part of this series, for those who attend this workshop, I'm offering a one-off 20% discount on a follow-up 2-hour (or more) Zoom session to help process any images taken during the workshop using Lightroom Classic (Offer valid for 3 months after the workshop).

Yorkshire Mix examples

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 prior to the workshop.

Itinerary

Day 1 

4.00 pm: I will collect you from the hotel and drive you to our home where we will start with introductions and I'll set out a more detailed plan of the next few days. My wife and I will then provide a lovely 2-course early evening meal and drinks. 
7 pm: We will drive to York where we will photograph through to around midnight. We shall explore the many streets, ginnels, courtyards and snickleways that York is so famous for including the Shambles - one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe. We will discuss the best ways to achieve pleasing urban compositions at night using my tried and tested techniques.
1 am: We will return you to the hotel.

Day 2

9 am: I will collect you from the hotel and return you to our home where a cooked breakfast will be provided. 
10.15 am: We will head into Wensleydale where our first stop is the beautiful Cauldron Falls in West Burton. Here, we will photograph this impressive waterfall from different viewpoints with the backdrop of late autumn colour.
12.45 pm: We will then drive to Dentdale to photograph the beautiful Dent Viaduct conveniently situated just 15 mins from our final destination for the day.
1.30 pm: We will then drive into Ribblesdale to photograph the impressive Ribblehead viaduct as well as many interesting compositions such as lone trees and abstracts of ferns wedged between limestone pavament - all with the stunning backdrop of Ingleborough and Whernside (2 of the 3 Yorkshire Peaks). A packed lunch will be provided.
5.30 pm: After sunset, we will head back to our home where a 2 course evening meal and drinks will be provided.
9 pm: I will return you to the hotel.

Day 3

6 am: Pre-breakfast shoot at Hawnby Hill on the North York Moors. This iconic hill is surrounded by moorland and perfectly situated trees as foreground.
9.30 am: I will return you to our home for a cooked breakfast.
11am: I will take you to the hotel for you to check out and put your luggage in your car (you may leave your car in their secure car park)
11.30 am: I will take you to my favourite woodland on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales to photograph beautiful beech trees which will have late autumn colour and a lush and colourful carpet of leaves. This uncluttered woodland is ideal for creating simple compositions and if we’re lucky we may be enveloped in soft mist due to its high elevation. During this session, we ill take time out for lunch (packed lunch provided). We will shoot through to sunset allowing warm light to filter through the trees.
After Sunset: I will return you to the hotel to pick up your car.
4:30 pm: Workshop comes to a close.

Camera Equipment

Here is a list of recommended equipment you should bring…

• Camera body and a selection of lenses that ideally cover wide-angle to medium telephoto. 
• At least two camera batteries.
• Tripod.
• Hot-shoe spirit level (if your camera has a level indicator built-in that’s fine).
• A small set of graduated filters - ideally 1, 2 and 3 stop - please contact me for advice if necessary (optional, you may borrow mine where necessary).
• Polariser (optional, you may borrow mine where necessary).
• Lens cloth.
• Umbrella.

Clothing 

• Outdoor clothing suitable for weather at this time of year
• Walking shoes/boots

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. All walks will be easy-going and not rushed and some locations will require flat walks of around 15 to 20 minutes.

Getting there

By Road

There is a good road network to Northallerton - I will send hotel details nearer the time. The hotel has its own car park and is free to use for guests.

By Rail

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

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.