Join me for an immersive 3-day (2-night) photography workshop focusing on the creative possibilities of Lensbaby lenses and Omni filters. This hands-on workshop is designed for photographers of all levels who are interested in expanding their artistic vision and exploring new techniques in lens effects and filter use.

Throughout the workshop, we will delve into the unique characteristics of Lensbaby lenses, known for their ability to create stunning visual effects such as selective focus, beautiful bokeh, and artistic blur. You'll learn how to harness these qualities to add a distinctive touch to your photographs, making your work stand out. You will have access to all my Lensbaby lenses including Velvet 56, Velvet 85 as well as Double Glass II, Soft-Focus II, Twist 60, Sweet 50 and Creative Bokeh optics.

In addition to Lensbaby lenses, we will explore their range of Omni filters, which offer a versatile and intuitive way to add colour, light, and texture effects to your images. Our sessions will include both classroom instruction and practical, hands-on shooting opportunities, ensuring that you gain a thorough understanding of how to use these tools creatively and effectively.

By the end of the workshop, you will have developed new skills and techniques that you can immediately apply to your photography practice. Whether you are looking to enhance your landscape, macro or abstract photography, this workshop will provide you with the knowledge and inspiration to elevate your work to the next level.

Lensbaby examples

A woodland scene using the Twist 60

You will learn

• Which apertures work best for creativity
• How to use tilt for accurate manual focussing of your Composer Pro
• Compositional rules when shooting Lensbaby
• How to use the optional Macro filters on your Lensbaby optics (you may borrow mine)
• Getting the best out of Lensbaby aperture discs to create extraordinary bokeh
• Adding colour, light, mirror images and textures using Omni filters
• Try out different Lensbaby optics to see what they can do for your photography before buying!
• Adding other techniques such as the Orton Effect or multiple exposures to your compositions.

You will need to bring

This workshop purely focusses on Lensbaby products, so you will need to bring with you a Composer Pro 2 that fits your camera or one of their stand alone lenses such as the Velvet range. A full explanation of Lensbaby lenses can be found on my news page here >>.

If you're looking to attend this workshop to try the Lensbaby range before comitting to buy then please get in touch as you may be able to borrow my range of lenses depending on the make of your camera.

• Camera body 
• At least two camera batteries
• Composer Pro 2
• Tripod
• Lens cloth
• A small kneeling mat as you'll be working on your knees at times.
• A Wimberley Plamp for holding flowers steady (definitely optional - you may borrow mine when required).
• Any Lensbaby lenses you may own ~ you are welcome to borrow from my large range of optics (although you will need  to bring a Composer Pro 2 as mentioned above).

My Lensbaby Lenses, Optics and Omni filters

Accommodation

You will be based at a beautiful boutique 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.

Itinerary

Day 1 - 12 noon:  I will collect you from the hotel and drive you to my home for introductions, a light lunch and to discuss camera settings. I will then drive us to a beautiful wildflower park close to my home where I will demonstrate some of the Lensbaby optics and the effects they create. You will then be invited to create your own wildflower compositions using some of my optics or your own.  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 2 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): I will drive you to a beautiful woodland near Masham on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, where I will discuss the use of Lensbaby lenses for woodland photography - considering both colour and black and white for extra drama. A packed lunch and drinks will be provided around 1 pm. We will then head for my favourite wetlands centre to photograph butterflies, damselflies and other cute bugs using Lensbaby lenses, macro lenses and Omni filters for a more creative look. We will return to my home early evening for drinks and a prepared evening meal before returning you to the hotel later in the evening.

Day 3 - 9:30 am (after breakfast at our home): I will drive you to Saltburn on the North Yorkshire Coast where I will discuss how to create coastal landscape scenes using the Lensbaby optics and Omni filters as well as dicuss the importance of composition and exposure bracketing for such scenes. We will return from Saltburn at around 1 pm for a light lunch and debrief. The workshop will come to an end at approximately 2pm when I will drop you off at the hotel car park for you to collect your car.

Please note: Inclement weather plays its role in creative photography, too - softening and creating water droplets on petals and leaves. If, however, the weather for a particular session is too poor, we will return to my home and discuss composition using Mark's prints as examples. if time allows, I will also offer some useful processing tips using Adobe Lightroom Classic in my studio. 

Clothing 

• Outdoor clothing suitable for photographing at this time of year
• Waterproof coat in case of rain
• Walking shoes/boots
• Black Umbrella  - useful as a parasol to reduce 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. 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 and the station is only a 5-minute drive from my home. I can 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 can 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 paid 12 weeks before the course commences (20 weeks for overseas workshops).

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.