Lake District & Eryri Landscape Photography Workshops

Eryri/Snowdonia 1-1 WORKSHOPS AND Groups 

Come and better your landscape photography skills with myself and Vicki Procter, in the fantastic scenery that is Eryri/Snowdonia! It is an outstanding location to develop and enhance your skills. From setting up, composing and taking the shot, we will guide you through the full process.

My bespoke one-to-one and small-group landscape photography workshops will help you develop and /or further your camera skills. From first viewing at the location to processing the image we will look at composition, the understanding of light and a better knowledge of your camera while photographing in some of the area's finest landscapes.

I have been going to Eryri since I was a child (yes I can remember that far back…) and subsequently, my wife and I took our family there too. I have so many memories of it and I always feel like I am going ‘back to a friend’ when I head in that direction.

To me, the landscape in the Eryri National Parc is more ‘concentrated’ and you can find some of the most dramatic scenery right by the roadside. Many will enter the Parc via Llanberis and that is not a bad place to go to but it is more touristic as the main route up Yr Wyddfa begins there. Not forgetting the train! It makes a fantastic day out with friends and family but it is not my natural choice to deliver a landscape photography workshop there. Having said that, the Ceunant Mawr waterfall is one not to be missed.

Prior to the day(s) we have arranged, we will have exchanged a number of emails (and/or spoken on the phone) and as a part of your workshop, I will ask you to forward a dozen of your best landscapes to me. These will form part of the start of our time together at the opening of the workshop, as we discuss the forthcoming day over a coffee before we move out. Once we have been out ‘in the field,’ we will return and process your images. Vicki will send the guide notes out to you a few days after you have left.

My family have ascended all the routes up Yr Wyddfa on a number of occasions (only on the train once!!) and I am proud of them for doing so (they were always willing and loved it) but I personally think the Ogwen Valley takes some beating.

The valley is spectacular and travelling along the A5 (almost in parallel to the Pen Y Pass at Llanberis) is a great example of just what to expect.

As you drive from Capel Curig towards Bethesda, you will be ‘greeted’ by a fabulous site of the ‘Glyderau’ mountain range majestically rising up on your left with ‘Tryfan’ and its distinct hogs back shape, directly opposite the ‘Carneddau’ range with ‘Pen Yr Ole Wen’ making its presence known. The road literally bisects them and both offer opportunities that will have you taking the camera out as soon as you arrive on your workshop!

Cwm Idwal is one of the most accessible places to explore and I do occasionally take workshops there. It is here that we will capture images of waterfalls, huge mountain views, Llyns (lakes) and of course the simple pleasures of being out in the best of scenery whilst doing so. Whilst the tourists do come here due to its accessibility there is plenty of room for us all. The lower slopes of the Cwm are good for working on the shoreline of the Llyn and it never disappoints.

Conversely, you can just as easily venture up into the back of beyond from there where the ‘Devils Kitchen’ takes you up on high above the Cwm to ‘Glyder Fawr’ and ‘Glyder Fach.’ We won’t be doing that but we can go to the bridge that leads to them. It is not such a strenuous walk even though you will be ascending gradually and if you do want to go there, we will travel as light as possible with just your basic kit of tripod, camera, two lenses and filters. Not forgetting your sarnies! It is worth it just for the view but the fact that we will photograph it too …..The views from there are spectacular as you look back down over Cwm Idwal towards ‘Pen.’

After a lifetime of going to Eryri/Snowdnia, I feel I have an extensive knowledge of it now and can take you to places that will fulfil what you want from your time with us.

Both Vicki and I are official ambassadors of the Parc and are very proud of that fact.

*It is important to note that this is not the end of your time with us, as you will now be part of a substantial number of people who we have had the privilege of working with over the years. We make ourselves available to you, to proffer help of which there is no additional fee and if needs be continue with your photographic progression and welcome you back on further workshops.*

“I wanted to say thank you Mark & Vicki for the most fabulous workshop in Snowdonia. This was my second one day workshop (previously in the Lake District) and I cannot emphasis enough, what a brilliant time I had. Mark & Vicki are so personable and for someone who has struggled for years on “group courses” you will be amazed at the difference that their workshop makes. Mark explains things from start to finish so I really understand what settings are for and how the changes effect the photo. I now the take his system that I have been taught with me wherever I go and have the confidence to shoot in manual all the time. If you are thinking of booking… do it… you will not be disappointed. Their enthusiasm has rubbed off on me and now I can’t wait to go out and practice some more!
Thank you Mark and Vicki and I am looking forward to my next day in October.”

Sharon Hobson, Cheshire

This is the land of Celtic myth and legend and it has the locations to back that up. No matter what time of year we can go to locations for your landscape photography workshop that will deliver for you.

“Mark, I wanted to ‘put pen to paper’ to say thank you to both Victoria and yourself following my time with you last week. Whilst I have joined you on a couple of photo walks previously, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed, this was completely different. From the moment we met, you put me at ease and took the time to understand me, my background in photography and, most importantly, what I wanted to get out of the two days. Once we were out on the landscape, your knowledge of the area was amazing and the areas you took me to suited what I was looking to gain from the workshop. Returning to the cafe to show me how you process images was fantastic … you were quick to put me at ease as I’d mentioned previously I was overwhelmed by Lightroom. Day two and Dinorwig Quarry was absolutely amazing! As promised, you made me look at ‘landscapes’ with a fresh pair of eyes and, as well you know, I was blown away by the day! I will be returning very soon! Overall, a fantastic couple of days with an amazing couple of people! Your patience, your knowledge, your understanding and you humour have inspired me to take my photography more seriously and I will be booking another couple of days again.”

Wayne Ellison, lancashire

As well as the ‘usual’ locations that many will want to go to, I also deliver the landscape photography workshops and courses within the World Heritage Site that is Dinorwig. This is industrial landscape photography at its finest. Having closed in 1969, the site has been ‘frozen in time’ with much of what you encounter, is left as the men walked away on the day it ceased to operate. I personally find it a soulful place to go and the watchword I preach is always respect. We keep to the proper paths and my photographic objective there is to ensure that you can marry the natural landscape with the man made. It is a fantastic place and never disappoints. It is a very dramatic place to visit and ethereal. On days when the clag is down and occasional rays light up the wet slate, are simply the finest. Hazy blue sky days do work too. Whilst we can never control the weather, we can always guarantee good images from there.

“This was my second workshop with Mark but this time in Snowdonia. His knowledge of the area is fantastic and he chose the selection of locations to further enhance my development which meant that I had wide variety of images and challenges for the week. We were deep into mountain country and the weather was very changeable, ranging from bright warm sunshine to amazonian torrential rain (I kid you not!) and on days like that you do sometimes think ‘what if we can’t go any where? Just what do we do??’ I needn’t have worried because Mark's local knowledge meant that he was able to maximise every day and choose suitable locations for me. Consequently, I was able to have a full week of photography and learning. We were joined by his colleague Vicki Procter and what a good teacher she is who sometimes looks at things in a different way. I liked that. As before, Mark's teaching style was relaxed and professional. He has been ‘doing this for a long time’ now and it really shows. He fully understood my needs and ensured ways I would and did progress so that my photography was able to move a lot further forward. That famous Danish beer company don't do photography workshops, but if they did .......”

Jim Butler, Devon

We are delighted when asked by camera clubs to take them out as a group. The camaraderie and rapport is there from the outset as well as the banter and it is pleasing to know that having delivered for them in Eryri, they come back and ask for another in the Lakes. we are not complaining!

Our minimum is four people and maximum is six.

“We have just returned from what will be the first of a series of workshops with Mark and Vicki. It is fair to say that we are all buzzing from the day and many who attended over the two days have already expressed a desire to return for more. Mark and Vicki are so patient and attentive and we heartily recommend that your club doesn’t hesitate in booking with them”

Alan Fowler, Newport Photographic Club

You can find full details of the 1-1 and group landscape photography workshops and courses here