4 Night Photography Retreat

27-31 March 2025

Is your photography Stale?

Come and join me on the South-East Coast of Kent for a chance to rethink your photography. This is not a landscape course, though we are only 10 minutes drive to Dungeness, this is not a portrait course, though we will discuss and take portraits, this is not a still life course, but we will encourage you to observe the light and see how objects react to it.

So what is this retreat about and what will you get from it?

This residential retreat will have you look afresh at what you can achieve with your photography. No more chasing sunsets and sunrises, no more putting your tripod where many have done before, no more having an image served up to you.

You will be encouraged to look and experiment, make prints and books, write and talk about your photography.

When you return home you will see the potential for interesting images all around you. No more will you tell yourself there was no good light. You won’t wish you were somewhere more interesting. You will just create images.

Subjects we will discuss with prints and books available to view

Printing, Portraits, Long Exposure, Light Painting, Still Life, Alternative Processes (Cyanotype/Platinum Printing), Cameraless Photography (Scanography, Lumens), Book Making, Printing

Yes, I mentioned printing twice, I’m a firm believer that an image isn’t truly finished until it is printed. To this end there will be an A2 Epson printer and numerous papers available for you to experience the joys of printing. Before coming on the retreat I will ask you to send me a selection of your photos which I will have printed and ready to discuss, I will send out instructions on what I need prior to the retreat along with additional details.

If you have a laptop please bring it with you, I will have a 27 inch iMac for you to use if you don’t have one.

Arrival Day

Residents can arrive from 4 on the 27th to give yourself time to settle in, non-residential students arrive by 6:15, a meet and greet at 6:30 followed by dinner. First teaching session 8:00 - 9:00, everyone must attend. Dinner is included for residential and non-residential students.

Timetable

All Students

  • Dinner and meet and greet 6:30 on Thursday evening

  • Classes - Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 9:30 to 4:30

  • Self-service lunch provided unless we are away from the accommodation

  • Dinner included except on Sunday evening when we will go out for dinner

  • After dinner we will spend time discussing, editing and printing some of the days images

  • Weather permitting we will do some light painting after dinner one evening

Residential students only

  • Self service breakfast 8:00 to 9:00

  • Continue working after evening has finished

  • Vacate premises by 10:00 on the Monday

  • If you have time to stay in the area we will give you a few ideas of interesting places to visit

Prices

  • Single occupancy £1100

  • Double occupancy £850 each - There is one twin room and 4 doubles, all en-suite, please indicate when paying which room you require

  • Non-residential £500 - 4 spaces available

Greatstone Retreat 2025
from £500.00

What you can expect from the workshop

  • A slowing down of your process, this workshop will encourage you to think about what you are doing. Of course we will offer advice on camera settings when necessary.

  • Post processing tuition in LR/PS

  • Full workflow from pre-visualisation through to finished print

Who is this workshop for

  • This workshop is for anyone wanting to move their photography forward.

  • There will be some moderate walking required so not suitable for people with mobility issues, please contact us if you want to clarify.

What you need to bring

  • Camera/tripod/filters/Laptop (a memory stick if you don’t have a laptop), extra batteries, cable release. We will have some filters available if you don’t have your own.

  • Suitable clothing and footwear.

What is not included

  • Insurance

  • Travel to and from the location

  • Cameras

  • Any meals/drinks when away from the accommodation and Dinner on the final night.

Cancellation - In the event that we can not run the Workshop you will receive a full refund.

In the unfortunate event that you are unable to attend we will refund your money, less deposit, if we are able to fill your place.

Our accommodation for the retreat is a 6 bedroom house with direct access to the beach at Greatstone. Each bedroom is en-suite. The house is very spacious, the dining table is big enough for 12 people, with several break out spaces for people to work in.