This 5-day (6-night) photography workshop is perfectly situated to explore the dramatic and atmospheric coastline of Yorkshire. The Yorkshire Coast is my photographic playground and I love to share my favourite locations with like-minded photographers - and the jewel in its crown has to be Whitby!

Whitby is a gem of a seaside town nestled around a small harbour at the mouth of the River Esk on the North Yorkshire coast. With its sweeping piers, Victorian architecture, Benedictine Abbey and cobbled side-streets, Whitby has attracted artists and photographers from around the world for over a hundred years! Due to the offbeat Goth weekends held twice a year and one of the locations of the famous book, Dracula (where the vampire turns into a wolf, flees a capsized ship and scrambles up the cliffs towards the Abbey), Whitby has built a lovable reputation with a more sinister, dark side. To take advantage of this, we will not only photograph at sunrise and sunset but we'll also photograph around the cobbled streets and alleways after dark.

The Yorkshire Coast has so much to offer besides Whitby of course, which is why we'll be based just a short 10-minute drive away in beautiful Sandsend. From here, we'll be in the perfect location to visit a large swaith of coastline from Runswick Bay, Staithes and Skinningrove to the north and Robin Hood's Bay, Scarbrough and Saltwick Bay to the south (famous for its shipwreck). As there'll still be plenty of autumn colour around, we 'll also find ourselves in the beautiful setting of Littlebeck Forest and Falling Foss to photograph its spectacular waterfall, packhorse bridge and surrounding beech trees.

I've been photographing the Yorkshire Coast for decades, so I know it intimately. Checking the weather throughout the workshop, I'll make sure you're in the right place at the right time to get the best shots! This workshop includes all meals throught the day provided by my wife, Gillian. This gives us the flexibility to photograph whenever we like without the constraints of hotel mealtimes - particularly at sunrise and sunset.

On some evenings (or if we experience a particularly poor spell of weather), we will use the time to process some of your images taken on the workshop using Lightroom Classic on my computer and 27" monitor. 

Join me

Join me on this amazing discovery of the Yorkshire coast and beyond where we will photograph during the day as well as some of the evenings too. Whether you're an amateur or a seasoned photographer looking for fresh inspiration, you'll simply fall in love with this part of Yorkshire!

Yorkshire Coast by Day

Whitby by Night

Carefully Chosen House

We will be based in a large 5-bedroom house in Sandsend, a carefully chosen central location for easy access to coastal locations north and south. Most photographic locations are within a short driving distance of under 30 minutes from our accommodation meaning more time for photography! 

Fully Catered For

This beautiful house is a self-catering property but don't worry, you won't need to do any cooking (or washing up)! My wife and business partner, Gillian, will provide all meals at a time to suit our photography. We will provide a cooked breakfast, packed lunch and a 2-course evening meal with complimentary drinks each day - all included in the price! Bedrooms are either double or twin - all with their own private bathroom.

Itinerary

Arrive any time after 3 pm on the afternoon of Saturday 16th November, 2024 and we'll meet in the lounge for drinks at around 5.30pm to discuss in detail the format of the workshop and to answer any questions you may have. A more detailed itinerary will be shared after I have checked the weather forecast for the coming days. An evening meal and drinks will be served at around 7.30pm. For the next five days, you will be transported to numerous locations around the area by me, where we will discuss composition and technical skills to meet your expected goals. I will be on hand throughout each session offering tuition, advice and help with any technical issues. On some evenings, we will head back out into the dark streets and alleyways of Whitby where I'll explain how to make stunning sinister-looking night-time images amongst the dark side-streets and alleyways - a lot of them lit by imitation Victorian-style gas-lamps for a more authentic effect! The workshop will come to a close after breakfast on Friday 22nd November, 2024. 

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 (for instance 25mm to 200mm). 
• 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 (please contact Mark if you need further help on which filters to bring).
• Lens cloth
• Head torch for shooting at night

Clothing

• Appropriate outdoor clothing to meet predicted weather
• Hat
• Gloves
• Waterproof coat
• Waterproof trousers
• Walking wellingtons and/or boots
• Umbrella
• Head-Torch (very necessary)

Fitness Level - Easy | Moderate | Challenging

A moderate level of fitness is required for this workshop due to some coastal villages being steep in some areas - but all locations have been carefully selected for their stunning views, safety, convenience and ease of access.

Getting there

By Road

There is a good road network to Sandsend. Full accommodation details will be sent before the start of the workshop.

By Rail

The nearest train station is in Whitby. Check train times now at https://www.thetrainline.com/

By Plane

The nearest airport is Durham Tees Valley. If you are planning to arrive by air please contact Mark first to discuss travel arrangements as Durham Tees Valley airport is around one hour away from Sandsend by car thereafter. Alternatively, a train service from the airport direct to Whitby is also available. Please contact Mark for further details.

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.