Kia ora tatou:

Well the first Okuru workshop has been and gone. Four victims (I mean willing participants) made the big journey down to the back corner of New Zealand for some R&R-they thought!

The workshop had a number of aims:

1. to help each of the participants find or clarify their personal photographic direction
2. to introduce them to landscape photography, or to redefine their techniques and approaches
3. to improve their mastery of digital photography
4. to introduce them to the concept of producing a body of work
5. to help them develop an idea flow

The course began with people arriving on the Sunday afternoon, and getting settled in. In the evening, we shared work and look to the days ahead. We talked about the idea of looking at in developing a personal approach to the landscape, rather than heading out, hoping something would put its hand up.

Each day began with a field trip, which usually lasted till lunchtime. There is so much to photograph around here that we didn’t have to go far. In fact, the first morning, we only went about a kilometer and a half.

We would then come back to base, eat a sumptuous lunch, and spend the early part of the afternoon editing and working through images shot in the morning. There was usually a workshop that discussed some aspect of digital post-production. Each of the participants then spent an hour or two with me talking about their own photographic directions, while the rest sat in front of the fire working. Then there was wine o’clock, usually before dinner and more talking about photography.

After we had eaten, there was a critique of each person’s five best photographs from the day. This usually lasted until well into the evening. On the last evening, each person put their 10 best photographs from the week into a slide show, which are shown to a number of locals.

It has to be said-the weather was awful! But we went out anyway. By day three, they were getting used to working in inclement conditions, and looking for the magic that can come and even on that dreadful day. Standing in the rain, they photographed mist shrouded hills, raging streams, the wacky whitebaiters’ village of Kwitchatown, the mournful Pioneer Cemetery at Jackson’s Bay, and the gigantic rocks at the Gates of Haast.

And did they produce some wonderful images!

We spent the last afternoon out at the amazing Ships Creek, where I successfully managed to drown my 1Ds MkII-does anybody want a very expensive bookmark?

There will be more of these workshops, because I cannot help feeling that there seems to be a real need for small intimate workshops like these, which help people develop their creativity and personal photographic direction.

But don’t take my word for it-read the articles contributed by Ian Walls below.

At this stage I am looking to do another one around mid-October. If you think it’s you, get in touch.

By the way, the group photo at the top of this post( note everyone wearing West Coast slippers) shows the five of us waiting for the slip to be cleared. In spite of rumours to the contrary, it wasn’t caused by Russell Hanson’s enthusiasm to get above his subjects! Actually, we went at worried about not being able to go any further. We were keen to get to the courier van on the other side of the slip, which contained that most precious of cargoes-more coffee beans!

Ka kite ano