Photography workshops - any interest?

[jannie]

Dear Forum Members

I want to field an idea and see what the responses are like. I hope asking something like this does not breach any forum rules – if it does I am sure I will get the appropriate wrap on the knuckles!

My parents live on a beautiful farm in Riversdal (that little dorp not far from Mossel Bay on the N2 with the wimpy at the bottom of the steep hill that the cops always trap at), which I think offers opportunities for photographic workshops. I list the opportunities in detail below, but essentially a group of us (up to about as large as 30 I guess) could go there for a few days (over the weekend or during work days, both are fine) and have a series of workshops in a three-roomed national monument homestead/opstal (two of the rooms are large enough to cater for classes of up to 30, the third is still a decent size) and workshops outdoors in the garden/on the fields/at the river etc.

My initial thoughts are that either a bunch of us get together and go share our knowledge and have a good time which can include red meat and beers or someone who has a suitable set of skills could charge each person attending the workshop a set fee (Mark Thomas is one person I think will attract interest) – anyone interested in being that person please let me know. Whichever option is taken as farm owners my parents would charge a minimum fee of R500 for the venue per day (an absolute bargain) or meal charges (which ever is greatest), we would be expected to use the farm caterer – FYI we do have a good chef and meals will be something like R50 for lunch, R70 for dinner and probably less for breakfast – most produce grown organically 30m from the national monument.

It would take me ten minutes to arrange accommodation for 30 people.

In terms of the level I would not be aiming at beginners but at the range of photographers who have done the basic courses and want that little additional help to get them to another level or even advanced/serious photographers who want to focus on a particular subject.

In terms of potential subjects I think we could work in different environments and focus on achieving winning composition and ultimate exposure, but specifically I feel the opportunities are as follows:

Architecture – as mentioned the homestead is a national monument (oldest building in Riversdal) and we can shoot it from the outside, inside, in the roof. There are other farm buildings (at different levels of disrepair) which offer good opportunities as well.

Animals – OK! Goats, chickens, geese, dogs (ours and if people want to bring their own), cows – also consider that the goats are white and black and the cows are black which makes for challenging exposure settings.

Landscapes – it’s a 4 km long farm – but specific landscapes include shots over the Overberg mountains, farm landscapes (rolling hills of wheat), olive orchards, dams (both on the farm and nearby).

Vegetables – ok, this may sound wacky but there is a vegetable garden which we could shoot or pick and create a controlled environment in the opstal and learn how to take those shots we see in gourmet magazines.

Flowers – my mother has decent gardening skills which means there are a wide range of flowers we could try shoot.

Portrait/controlled – the opstal creates interesting light inside and I think good opportunities for portrait photography. It does have electricity so if someone wants to bring a lighting system we can do whatever we want.

Abstract – it’s a farm, there is space and there are lots of things on the farm. My 24sq metre garden offers good opportunity for abstract: a 214ha farm offers many, many more!

Sunsets and sunrises – they will be over land, but sometimes (like in any other place where the sunsets) they are magnificent.

Cuisine – hey, food will be served!

People – hopefully a few shots of us socialising?

If anyone has suggestions please post them - other things like an LCD projector and lighting equipment can be hired and their cost shared/incorporated into the workshop fee.

And a last little aside: even though my user name is Jannie, I want the workshops to be run in English!

[Hedrus]

HI Jannie,I have to answer quickly since I am using my office phone line with dial-up. My ADSL line is down.
I like your idea, i think you should maybe make contact with me regarding the workshops and offering services. We do not want to alow not aproved workshops throught the outdoorphoto website because we would like to monitor all associated wit outdoorphoto.
It would be great if you can offer weekend get aways and we can select some tutors to run a workshop.
I will soon be online again an I would love to chat with you regarding this offer.

[jannie]

Hedrus

Thats cool - i seriously didn't want to over step any line - basically i can offer the venue of the opstal - three rooms, kitchen and bathrooms - with electricity - and 214ha farm that has goats, geese, chickens, cows, a river (the river is no great shakes itself but does offer opportunities) two small dams, olive orchards, veg garden etc.

the big thing to me is the opstal with the rooms where people attending the workshop can retreat back to look at photos and discuss things.

from my side i can advise on accommodation, good inexpensive accommodation and we will need a minumum pay of R500 per day for the venue - and that can include meals.

tell me what more you want to know - if my responses are not quick enough send a private message as i also work from a dial up.

cheers