The Mountain Photography Wildcamp Expedition is our ultimate photography experience, offering a unique and authentic glimpse into the secret side of Mountain Landscape Photography! Whether you’re an improving photographer looking to spend the night in the mountains, or just looking to get to grips with landscape photography basics in amazing locations then this two day, one night wild camping expedition could be perfect for you.

With combined skill sets in both Photography and Mountain leadership, we specialise in getting you to remarkable mountain locations often ‘out of bounds’ to other photography workshops. Our Mountain Landscape Photography Courses are specifically targeted at those people who want to move beyond roadside locations and explore the hidden wealth of photographic opportunities the Lake District offers.

If you’re looking for photography workshops away from the mountains, pop along to our sister website, “Rod Ireland Photography” for a variety of workshops to suit all levels. For more details of those, click here

 

Mountains take on magical qualities from late evening to early morning – the time when you’re stuck at the bottom of them, or tucked up in bed at your hotel! We’ll get you away from the well worn photographic ‘honey pots’ providing you with access to unrivalled, one-off photo opportunities.
The course blends together the photographic and mountain skills required to get you Out There, beyond the well known and easy to reach ‘honey pots’ and into the mountains for those unique photo opportunities. If you’re interested in landscape photography and you want to get to grips with the unique challenges of making memorable digital images in the mountain areas of the UK this is the course for you.

“On a pragmatic level…you’re on the spot in a staggering location at sunset and sunrise…on an emotional level, you feel that you almost become part of the landscape: you’re not simply arriving, taking a few pictures and leaving”
Harriet O’Brien, Daily Telegraph

Click HERE to see this course featured in the Daily Telegraph

Course Aims

The course aims to show you the skills and techniques needed to capture stunning mountain images at the same time as getting you out wild camping in the mountains of the Lake District.

Over the two days, there’ll be lots of opportunity to practice as you learn and create memorable images you might not otherwise have been able to access.

What will I learn about?
Photographic topics such as:

  • Equipment – What kit do we use, taking into consideration the need to carry this into the mountains?
  • Exposure – How do we control exposure and looking at creative use of aperture and shutter speeds and considering ‘depth of field’ and histograms
  • Composition – planning your shot and looking at the ‘rules’ and considering how to get balance and harmony in your landscape shots
  • Lighting – Considering the importance of lighting conditions for landscape shots and how this builds into our planning
  • Filtration – A look at the use of polarizing filters, Neutral density filters and Graduated Neutral density filters and why we use them
  • Advanced techniques – Getting the sharpest images, low-light photography, Hyperfocal distance, ‘exposing to the right’

Mountain skills covered such as:

  • Basic use of the map and using the map to help plan shots
  • Route Planning
  • Clothing & Equipment
  • Considering important factors such as weather during the planning of your trip
  • Hazards and dealing with emergency incidents

Is this course for me?

To make the most of the course you will have a basic understanding of how to operate your digital SLR. Carrying both camping & camera equipment into the mountains can be physically demanding, it’s therefore important that you have a good level of fitness to make the most of the course.

The emphasis will however be on learning skills and opportunities to create images, rather than covering long distances. We’ll always adapt what we do to match participants needs and expectations.

How long does it last?

The course lasts two days, with one nights wild camping. We’ll generally start around 9.30am on day one, returning by 4pm on the following day. The beauty of a wild camp is that you potentially have two chances at capturing images during the best light;  once around sunset and once around sunrise (but we can’t guarantee the weather!).

What about equipment?
Included in the cost of the course, we will supply the following:

  • Maps & Compass
  • All wild camping equipment
  • Camp Food / drinks
  • What equipment you’ll need to bring along:
  • Sturdy walking boots
  • Outdoor clothing, including waterproof top & trousers

In terms of camera gear, you’ll need to bring:

  • Digital SLR & Instruction booklet (to help you access the range of features your camera may offer)
  • Tripod
  • Any lenses you have
  • Any filters you have e.g. Graduated Neutral Density Filters

Where are the courses held?

The courses usually take place around the Ullswater and Borrowdale areas of the Lake District. If you book as a group we’re happy to look at arranging other venues to match your particular requirements.

Group size and Instructors

To ensure you get the most out of the experience and the attention you deserve, we limit this course to four participants. Running these courses is only possible by having coaches with combined skill sets in landscape photography and mountain leadership. These courses will always be led by someone with a mountain leadership qualification, in addition to a strong passion and ability around landscape photography.

 

Course Pricing

£269 per person – This includes:

  • Course fee
  • Equipment
  • Course notes
  • Free email enquiry service for 12 months after the course

 Availability

These special courses are available from April through to October. If you want to take your landscape photography to the next level, contact us with dates you have in mind.

If you’ve any questions about the course, just drop us an email and we’ll get back to you – contact page