Join award-winning photographer Alex Hyde on this one-off photography workshop at the Bishops Wood Field Centre in Worcestershire.
Using captive-bred subjects like mantids, tarantulas and snakes (all harmless), we will recreate the experience of photography in a rainforest and similar exciting tropical habitats. Good close-ups and portraits of such animals are always dramatic, but taking photos of these creatures is not necessarily straightforward and can seem challenging. However, this doesn't have to be the case....
Based at the Bishops Wood Field Centre located between Kidderminster and Worcester, expert wildlife photographer Alex Hyde will introduce and explain the necessary principles and techniques of this type of photography, so you too can create images with impact and successfully photograph small creatures next time you travel to the tropics or indeed in your back garden. On day 2, Jonathan Cleverly (aka Jungle Jonathan) will join Alex with a host of critters for you to put your new skills to the test.
The aim is that this weekend be informative and enjoyable and that you will leave with a selection of pleasing images and a new set of skills that you can put into practice on your next trip abroad or while visiting your local nature reserve.
Typical Itinerary
Day1: Welcome & Workshop Activities
For this workshop we will be based at the Bishops Wood Field Centre and its beautiful 70 acres of meadows, woodlands and ponds, just a short distance between Kidderminster and Worcester.
This morning, meet at the Field Centre for a welcome and introduction by Alex, followed by a full day of workshop activities including talks, theory and demonstrations, with practical tuition using the captive subjects.
During the workshop, Alex will explain the basics and fundamentals and improve your ability to observe and ‘see a photo’. Concepts and techniques will be demonstrated, then, working in small groups or individually, you will be able to put what you have learned into practice.
Day2: Workshop Activities
Enjoy another full day of tuition to perfect new skills and study macro in more depth, using the captive subjects provided by expert animal hander Jungle Jonathan. The workshop will come to a close in the later afternoon.
Please note: Accommodation is not included in the workshop, however we are happy to recommend some options nearby.
Key info
Duration and price excluding international flights: 2 daysfrom £575 pp
Trip type:
Group Tour
Group size: 10
When to go: Jan-Feb
Group Departures: We are currently finalising future dates for this tour. Please contact us for further details.
Included in the price/package:
Lunch and refreshments
Photography tuition from Alex Hyde
Services of expert animal presenter Jungle Jonathan
Often working with moving creatures smaller than a grain of rice, Alex has established himself as an expert in macro photography.
By understanding the behaviour of his subjects, he is able to capture intimate portraits of spiders, insects and other invertebrates in their natural habitats. Although his photography takes him all around the world, the Austrian Alps are a particularly special place for Alex and he returns annually to these favoured haunts to photograph the incredible insect and plant life.
An experienced tutor, Alex regularly delivers workshops and seminars on macro photography and has taught at venues such as the University of Nottingham and the Wild Photo photography festival in London. Alex supplies major international agencies and his photographs appear worldwide in newspapers, books and magazines including The Times, The Daily Telegraph, BBC Wildlife and New Scientist.
Affectionately known as 'Jungle Jonathan', Jonathan Cleverly is a lifelong naturalist with a particular passion for weird and wonderful wildlife, especially the reptiles and invertebrates.
He has been keeping and breeding these animals for more than 30 years and, as a former teacher who is now running his own educational business, loves to share these amazing animals with people of all ages.
