Day Trip To Westonbirt, National Arboretum – Update

We are going for the self-led option (£50) rather than for tuition (£165).

If you’d like to capture some stunning photos of your own, join me next Saturday for a day at Westonbirt doing our own thing as a group. We can share hints and tips on the train there as the journey is 1h30.

The cost of this is approximately £50 which is the cost of the train (£28), taxi (£12) and entrance to the arboretum (£10). No lunch provided. The more there are of us, the more we can save on the travel cost.

Photography at Westonbirt – Day’s Itinerary

* Meet at Paddington Station at 7:45am to buy tickets
* Train to Kemble arriving at 9:30am
* Taxi to Westonbirt arriving near to 10am
* Photograph from 10am-1pm
* Lunch at 1pm until 1:30pm
* Photography from 1:30-5pm
* Taxi back to Kemble with train departing at 5:48pm
* Arrival in Paddington at 7:15pm

Photography Trip To Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Every year, thousands of visitors make their way to Westonbirt during Oct and Nov to experience the climax of colour before the winter sets in. We’re hoping to go on Sat 15th Oct.

Autumn for them is described as “starting with a bang with one of the best natural fireworks displays in Britain”. The famous Japanese maples in particular are ablaze in reds, oranges and yellows.

I went last year and it certainly was a festival of colour! The day provided some awesome photography opportunities which you can see here on flickr.

If you’d like to capture some stunning photos of your own, join me for the day with tuition provided by Cotswolds photographer Sarah Howard. Details on the day’s workshop are here and her beautiful photos can be found here.

The Day’s Itinerary – Saturday 15th October

• Meet at Paddington Station at 8am
• Train to Kemble arriving at 9:30am
• Taxi to Westonbirt arriving near to 10am
• Tuition & photography from 10am-1pm
• Lunch at 1pm until 1:30pm
• Tuition & photography from 1:30-5pm
• Taxi back to Kemble with train departing at 5:48pm
• Arrival in Paddington at 7:15pm

Updated 9/10/11 with more info re. costs.

Special Shoot: Strictly in the City!

On Saturday, we held our second dance shoot in the City. 11 of us photographed 3 dancers – contemporary and hip-hop – in the beautiful settings of an old church.

Photo Challenge: Through The Generations

Join a group of beginner photographers for a fun challenge to produce 10 portraits of people enjoying Regent’s Park. You’ll be encouraged to seek out people aged between 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 etc.

• Date & Time: Mon 29 Aug 2-5pm
  
• Meeting Point: Outside Regent’s Park tube station

This is an opportunity to experiment with your people photography and build your confidence in taking portraits.

There will be no hard or fast rules as to what lens to use, or whether the portrait should be ‘posed’ or ‘candid’. The aim of the photo challenge is to start to develop an approach to taking people photos that you feel comfortable with. To help with this, the event will include:

• Discussion on ways to take people photos
• Sharing of ‘ice-breaking’ props
• Polite ways to find out someone’s age!
• A prize for a ‘poker hand’ of images (to be explained)

The photo challenge lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera as well as group check-ins. The cost of the event is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-event.

Sign up for a photo walk as well to meet other like-minded photographers.

Photo Walk: Pool of London

Join a group of beginner photographers for a leisurely photo walk around the Pool of London. We’ll go along Northbank, cross over Tower Bridge and then along the south side of the river to London Bridge.

• Date & Time: Thu 1 Sep, Thu 15 Sep, 7-10pm
  
• Meeting Point: Outside Monument tube

This will be a low-light walk so it’s a chance to practice using your tripod or high ISOs. Sunset is at 7:50pm. Photographic opportunities include:

• Reflections across the Thames as the sun sets
• Light trails as traffic crosses Tower Bridge
• Tower of London and City buildings being lit up
• Night shots of London Bridge and its traffic

It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-walk. The walk ends at London Bridge tube.

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.

Photo Walk: Albert Embankment

Join a group of beginner photographers for a leisurely photo walk along Albert Embankment towards Westminster. This will be a low-light walk so it’s a chance to practice using your tripod or high ISOs.

• Date & Time: Tue 6 Sep, Tue 20 Sep, 6:30-9:30pm
  
• Meeting Point: Vauxhall tube (exit 1 next to Pret)

The walk is a fun way to practice your night photography skills with like-minded people. Photographic opportunities include:

• Silhouettes across the Thames as the sun sets
• Action shots of joggers and cyclists on the Embankment
• The Houses of Parliament as they reflect on the river
• Night shots of Lambeth and Westminster Bridges

It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-walk.

The walk ends at Westminster Bridge which is 10 minutes walk from either Westminster tube or Waterloo station. If you want to carry on with night photography, the underpass takes you onto Southbank for images of County Hall and the London Eye.

“A truly excellent evening. Really good walk, not too far even with a heavy tripod and the views are stunning. The weather was perfect too. Also a very nice crowd of people.” Philip

“Really enjoyed it! The location and time was perfect! I have wanted to do night time urban landscapes for such a long time, so now I am full of joy!” Alina

“Good walk. The light and weather were fantastic and the other members were great company. Will be going to another event for sure.” Phil

“What a beautiful sunset! It was really nice to see the Southbank on the other side of Westminster Bridge.” Alisha

“Natalie – this was a fantastic evening! Thank you so much for putting this together.” Cheryl

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.

Photo Walk: Olympic Park

During this walk you’ll be able to capture photos of the fascinating and constantly changing East End, Fish Island and the Olympic Park itself.

The walk takes in the green areas around the Olympic Park and is full of wildlife, graffiti, hidden gems, out-of-place buildings. It is a delight to photograph!

At the end of the walk you can read all about the 2012 Olympic developments whilst enjoying a refreshment at the View Tube Cafe. Nearby is Pudding Mill Lane DLR which is one stop to Stratford.

• Date & Time: Sun 6 Nov 1-4pm
  
• Meeting Point: Outside Mile End tube (Central, District, Hammersmith & City lines)

The walk is a fun way to practice your camera settings and composition with like-minded people. It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos during and post-walk.

We’ll pass along the Regent’s and Hertford Union Canals built in the 1820s before entering Victoria Park for more photographs of nature. Moving on to Fish Island we have a chance to practice some architecture and street photography.

Finally, we walk along the Greenway which overlooks the 80,000 capacity Olympic stadium and has good views of the park itself. Construction in the Olympic Park now has most of the venues finished.

The walk ends at the View Tube cafe near Pudding Mill Lane DLR around 4pm.

“I just wanted to thank you for your comments on the photos that I took. They were very helpful and will help me with greatly with my composition.”Sandeep

“Interesting walk! It’s amazing to see what development has happened in that area of London!! Made all the more enjoyable because the group of ‘snappers’ were really friendly and engaging :o)” Claudine

“Diverting subject matter on an active canal: boats, graffiti & runners before opening out to Olympic site. Cafe & view as finale. Take map if you want to lag behind!” Deborah

“I shall take more time in future when I’m taking photos; hopefully it will lead to better pictures.” Carl

“By taking the time to practice my photography, I’ve learned an enormous amount.” Karen

“I’ve been introduced to seeing objects and scenery in new ways which I didn’t have a clue about before.” Sue

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.

Photo Walk: Northbank

Join a group of beginner photographers for a leisurely photo walk heading along the less touristy – but equally interesting – Northbank before ending at the picturesque St. Katherine’s Docks.

• Date & Time: Tues 16 Aug, 6:30-9:30pm
  
• Meeting Point: Outside St. Paul’s tube (on the left near Caffe Nero)

This stretch of riverside from St. Paul’s to Tower Bridge provides multiple photographic opportunities including:

• New and hidden views across the London skyline
• Unique vantage points of four famous bridges
• Historic architecture including Old Billingsgate Market
• Great views of London’s newest skyscraper – the Shard
• Street photography at the Tower and St. Katherine’s Docks

The walk is a fun way to practice your photography skills with like-minded people. It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. Natalie will also introduce future learning events with a spot of photography tuition.

The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-walk. The walk ends at St. Katherine’s Docks near Tower Hill tube around 9:30pm.

“Great walk, great group, great weather. And lots of great photo opportunities! Thanks to Natalie for all her suggestions and guidance.” Shirley

“Really enjoyed this photo walk. Natalie was a great host; informative and helpful when needed. The company was great and the choice of Northbank for the walk was excellent. I will certainly be going back!” Susan

“I now look at familiar places in a new way, thinking what would make a good photo.” Val

“An interesting event with a lovely walk in an area I haven’t explored before.” Tanya

“I’ve found new pleasure in taking photos, with fresh ideas and inspiration.” Howard

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.

Photo Walk: Regent’s Canal

Join a group of beginner photographers for a picturesque photo walk along a beautiful stretch of Regent’s Canal. The walk covers photographically diverse areas.

• Date & Time: Sat 27 Aug 2-5pm
  
• Meeting Point: WHSmith (Praed Str.) at Paddington overground

We start at Paddington Basin which is currently being redeveloped on a scale to rival London’s Docklands. Moving on, we will pass Little Venice, the point where the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal meets Regent’s Canal. Crossing over the blue bridge, we follow the towpath 2.5 miles to Camden Lock passing by Regent’s Park and London zoo.

The walk provides multiple photographic opportunities including:

• Abstract and modern architecture at Paddington Basin
• Birds and other entertainments around Little Venice
• Macro photography through the canal ‘villages’ and atop residents’ barges
• Street photography at Camden markets and high street

It’s all there for us to snap, share and enjoy!

The walk is a fun way to practice your photography skills with like-minded people. It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. Natalie will also introduce future learning events with a spot of photography tuition.

The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-walk. The walk ends at Camden markets (near to Hampstead Road lock) around 5pm. Camden Town tube is 10 minutes walk away through the lively markets (also great to photograph!).

“The pace was leisurely with well planned stops for catching up along the way. There were plenty of opportunities to to practice several types of shots, thereby getting to know learn about our cameras.” Shirley

“Brilliant day and not just because of the sunshine. Lovely people, Natalie was great, just enough theory and encouragement without going over the top. Well worth every penny. I’ve signed up for another walk as I enjoyed this one so much.” Janet

“Thanks for the feedback on my photos Natalie. Sunday’s photo walk has encouraged me to invest more time (and invariably money) in photography. Looking forward to another walk soon!” Rory

“This was my first photo walk and I had a good time. The weather was fine, the company was genial and I had a chance to ask questions about photography. Walking along the canal gave us many wonderful photo opportunities. Couldn’t have asked for a better first time photo walk. Thank you!” Audrey

“Relaxed atmosphere. My first walk and I’ll definitely attend future walks of interest.” Julinie

“If you like exploring London and taking photos in a non-judgmental environment, then this is for you.” Cameron

“It’s a good chance to get out of the house and meet some other people interested in photography.” Radek

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for photographers of all ages and abilities to get together and share their love of photography :)” Linda

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.

Photo Walk: The Docklands

During this walk you will be able to practice your photography skills whilst taking great photos of the Docklands and all its history.

• Date & Time: Sunday 16th Oct 11am
  
• Meeting Point: Outside Canary Wharf tube (Jubliee line and the DLR is close too)

The walk passes through various parks, docks and styles of architecture. We’ll even stop at Mudchute farm for photos of the animals!

Towards the end of the walk you’ll be taken 50ft under the river Thames via the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Greenwich Park provides some lovely vistas across London if you want to carry on. Alternatively hop on the DLR back into the City or take the overground into Central London. This route provides a gamut of photographic opportunities including:

• Modern architecture and reflections in Canary Wharf
• South Quay home to hip restaurants and apartments
• Mudchute Farm – a green oasis with sheep, goats and lamas
• Island Garden’s stunning views across the river
• Greenwich Foot Tunnel and Greenwich itself

The walk is a fun way to practice your photography skills with like-minded people. It lasts three hours which includes time to ask questions about your camera, as well as stops to discuss, share and review technique. Natalie will also introduce future learning events with a spot of photography tuition.

The cost of the walk is £10 which includes the chance to receive feedback on your photos post-walk. The walk ends at Greenwich near Cutty Sark DLR around 9:30pm.

“Really enjoyed the walk on Saturday. It was great fun and the photos I got were really interesting, thanks very much, I will definitely be doing more walks!” Jane

“Really enjoyed the walk. Natalie was great. Everyone was friendly. Weather was sunny. Some good pictures came out of all this :-)” Ruta

“Informative! You will learn something no matter your previous experience or camera type.” Em

“I’ve been introduced to seeing objects and scenery in new ways, and also to the technical aspects, which I didn’t have a clue about before.” Sue

Sign up for other photo walks and read about the benefits of attending.