Landscape Photography

For all holidays:

Day 1: Arrival day

Your room will be available from 2.30pm onwards.  Please join us for tea between 4pm and 5pm to meet the leader and your fellow guests.

Before dinner there will be a brief introduction to the holiday programme.

Centenary Holiday at Derwentwater, 3 August 2013

Day 2: An introductory day focusing on technique. There are plenty of photographic opportunities within a short stroll of the Country House including boats on Derwent Water, and the beautiful woodland of Fawe Park. In the evening we'll meet to review the day's images.

Day 3: Today we'll explore the central Lake District by mini-coach. We'll stop at Waterhead on the shores of Windermere and can enjoy an optional short walk from Ambleside to Stock Gyhll Force waterfall - two contrasting waterscapes to capture with your camera. In the afternoon we'll stroll beside the lake to Dovedale cottage and Grasmere village.

Day 4: A day in West Cumbria to photograph the boats at Maryport and Whitehaven harbours. We'll continue to St Bees Abbey and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

In the evening join in with 1,000s of other HF Holidays' guests throughout the UK and Europe for our grand Centenary Quiz. Tackle 100 questions on a variety of subjects.

Day 5: Join us for a free-day excursion to Hadrian's Wall. This is an opportunity for some leisurely sightseeing, with a chance to take some more photographs in a different landscape. We'll visit Lanercost Priory and the excellent Roman fort and museum at Vindolanda. Cost: £17 per person if pre-booked

In the evening enjoy some lighthearted dancing, accompanied by live music from a ceilidh band.

Day 6: Photograph some hidden corners of the Lake District on the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, before continuing around the 'Back-o'-Skiddaw' to the villages of Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket.

Day 7: Head to the south of the Lake District to photograph historic Sizergh Castle and Cartmell Priory. We'll follow the shores of Coniston Water, stopping at our neighbouring Country House at Monk Coniston for afternoon tea, before our return journey.

Conclude your holiday with a gala dinner - an opportunity to dress up and enjoy great food, sociable company and a live ceilidh band whilst celebrating 100 years of HF Holidays.

Day 8: Depart after breakfast.

Freshwater Bay, 21 September 2013, with Derek Forss

Day 2: Morning tuition covering photographic techniques. After lunch, a shoot in the immiediate locality. After dinner we'll review progress using digital projection.

Day 3: An introductory coach tour featuring photographic highlights. Stops will be made at Shalfleet for an easy stroll to the quay, Whippingham for its church designed by Prince Albert, the picture-postcard village of Godshill and Ventnor Botanic Gardens. After dinner an illustrated talk on digital photography.

Day 4: We take the service bus to Alum Bay for a landscape known and loved worldwide; The Needles. National Trust members can view this iconic landscape from The Needles Battery, and everyone can photograph it from the former rocket testing site, which is free. We return to the house over Tennyson Down, one of the best walks on the island. After dinner, a further review of progress.

Day 5: A free day for you to explore the local area or relax in the Country House.

Day 6: Havenstreet Station is the home of the Isle of Wight Heritage railway. Nearby Bembridge boasts the only windmill and its Downs are an airy viewpoint for lunch. Returning via Shanklin Old Village, Bonchurch and Ventnor, the group has the option for an easy stroll to the secluded Steephill Cove. After dinner a final review of progress.

Day 7: Hanover Point, a short distance along the coast, has a striking view to Freshwater Bay and Tennyson Down. We'll visit the villages of Mottistone, Brightstone and Shorwell, before we conclude with a visit to the roof of the island, St. Boniface Down, which is reached by coach. After dinner there'll be a small exhibition of work done - it's up to you how many photographs you choose to show.

Day 8: Depart after breakfast.

Dovedale, 21 October 2013, with Kel Portman

Day 2: We will walk to the delightfully unspoilt hamlet of Milldale and explore some of the dramatic Dove Valley, walking the banks of the River Dove under Thorpe Cloud.  There will also be a review of the day’s images plus technical and creative support.

Day 3: Today we’ll go across country to canals and some very dramatic picture opportunities in this little photographed area, including Whaley Bridge and Hayfield. There will also be a review of the day’s images plus technical and creative support.

Day 4: A tour of some well known and not so well known locations that give you masses of picture taking opportunities.  Locations include Magpie Mine and the Twelve Apostles. There will be a review of the days images and we’ll explore routes to further creative photography

Day 5: Depart after breakfast.

What to bring

• Your camera and other essential accessories
• memory card or film
• battery and charger
• Your camera’s instruction manual (especially if you are a beginner, and because even your leader hasn’t memorised every digital camera menu settings!)
  • waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear, ideally walking boots
  • bag or bags for your camera equipment, spare clothing, lunch, water, etc
  • Notebook and pencil (pencils work better in the rain!)

Optional camera accessories (remember you will have to carry some of these)

• spare memory cards
• a spare camera battery
• a spare camera (you never know)
• a small selection of lenses: wide angle, telephoto, macro, for example
• filters: neutral density and graduated, polarising
• a laptop plus accessories for viewing, editing and sharing images (whilst it’s not absolutely essential, bringing your own laptop will mean you get more from your photography holiday if you shoot digital)
• memory stick or CD for storing images
• a tripod or monopod if you feel more comfortable with one
• camera rain-protector—a shower cap, or plastic bag, or something more expensive if you like