There were several award-winners at the Jason Friend Photography Ltd. Purbeck Photo Workshop I ran today. Not least of these were the eight participants who braved gale-force winds and torrential rain to join me for a day in and around Swanage. So thanks Fran, Tom and Alex for being so upbeat throughout our rain-soaked adventure. Thanks to Sue C. and Sue T. for persevering with your cameras even as the waves crashed dangerously nearby. Thanks too to Brian, whose cheery smile seemed to grow wider as the clouds grew greyer. And thanks to Yvonne and Lee-Ann for brushing off the appalling conditions as a mere inconvenience and for declaring "it's only rain, we can't do anything about it" as soon as they arrived. Without such positive attitudes the day could easily have become much more of a chore but it was a genuine pleasure spending the day with you all.

Also an award-winner was the indomitable Chiz who ably assisted me and whose presence was greatly appreciated by us all. Thanks for driving so far Chiz and thanks too to Chiz's husband Ruben for providing a dry shelter in the form of a campervan at the start of the day.

There were unexpected award-winners in the Swanage Pier cafe (below) who sold us warming teas and coffees and who allowed us not only to dry off but also to carry out an impromptu Photo Challenge in the cafe and adjoining Amusement Arcade and Museum.

Lastly, the appropriately named "Bafta" and "Oscar" are given award-winning status for behaving so perfectly and for soldiering on through the wind and rain with their two-legged owners. My hearty congratulations and thanks to you all.



Inside the Swanage Pier Cafe

Tom gets to grips with a Photo Challenge

Waiting for the train to depart - Swanage

Taking up a position in rain-soaked Corfe Castle Station
If you are interested in future (and hopefully dryer) Photo Workshops then please sign-up for my Newsletter. Recipients of the Newsletter will hear about future events before they are published online and will receive priority booking status. You can also keep up to date with the latest news at Jason Friend Photography Ltd. where you'll see details of future workshops.

Tags: workshops, dorset

I joined up with Jon Sparks today for a photo workshop in Silverdale, Lancashire. It really was the most beautiful of spring days and setting out on a walk with a group of enthusiastic photographers was a treat. The great thing about spending time with other photographers is that you pick up little hints and tips that had previously escaped you. For instance, Jon pointed out that most of us carry a pretty sizeable reflector with us whenever we go walking but don't even realise it. It folds up to pocket-sized yet unfolds to become the largest light reflector you could ever need. And what is this magical light reflector? Why, it's your Ordnance Survey map of course. Cheers Jon!

This photo was taken at the end of the day and is an HDR image constructed from three images made from the same original RAW file processed at different exposures.

If you're interested in attending a photo workshop with me in April, don't forget that we've added a second date to the Purbeck Workshop in Dorset.

Tags: cumbria, hdr

I'm a few months behind with this story (better late than never, right?) but I've only just got around to reading my Canon Professional News e-mail from November last year.

The third Angkor Photo Festival took place in November 2007. It's an inspiring idea: photographers gather at Angkor in Cambodia to lead workshops with the aim of promoting photography in South East Asia. As well as catering for keen photographers, there are workshops for street kids and Canon have donated cameras to the Anjali Centre in nearby Siem Reap and the hope is that the children will work towards producing their own fund-raising book.

I remember seeing news of the festival last year and also in 2006 and it sounds like a fascinating project. Although the specific dates for 2008 are yet to be announced, I've pencilled in some free time for November in the hope of participating.

Tags: angkor photo festival, photography

I'm pleased to say that the Photo Workshop that I'm running in Dorset on April 19th has now completely sold out. Due to the levels of interest that we've received, I'm delighted to announce that we have added a second date on Sunday 20th April, 2008.

Further details can be found on the Workshop page of my web site and you can reserve your place online at Jason Friend's web site.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like more information about the Workshops, I'm always happy to talk through what we hope to achieve on the day and to answer any questions you might have.

Tags: dorset, photography

I’m delighted to announce that I’ll be running a Photographic Workshop in April ’08. I’ll be joining up with landscape photographer Jason Friend to take a group for a day around one of my favourite locations, the Isle of Purbeck.

Starting in sunny Swanage, we’ll walk along the coast to Corfe Castle, stopping to photograph the wonderful scenery on the way. We’ll return to Swanage from Corfe at the end of the day with a trip on the steam railway, which should be an excellent way to conclude the walk.

Apart from the great views along the way (and the engaging company of course), we’ll visit the “best pub in the world” and I’m sure it will be a really good day out. What could be better than joining up with a group of like-minded people for one of the best walks in England, all of whom want to talk about photography all day long? I’m really looking forward to it.

Photo Workshops

Tags: dorset