First week of the month Length 2hrs. 9:30 am-11:30 am Informal Woodland photography walk workshops in and around Warwickshire Woodlands | All Levels Welcome
Summary
Location: Various Warwickshire Woodlands
Dates: 2024/2025 - 09:30 - 11:30
Millisons Wood, Meriden - Mon May 6
Piles Coppice, Coventry - Mon Nov 4
Crackley Wood, Kenilworth - Fri Nov 8
Hay Woods - Solihull Fri Jan 3
Tile Hill Wood - Coventry - Mon Feb 3
Oakley Wood - Leamington Spa Mon Mar 3
Participants: Max 6
Fitness: 1. Easy
Photography Workshop Event Details: Woodland Walks
Description: Simplifying Woodland Photography: Unlocking the Secrets to Capturing the Beauty of Nature
My aim is not to instruct you what to shoot, instead, I want to help you develop your own sense of visual awareness, photographic eye and your personal interpretation. I will be happy to help you with the “how to shoot” whatever it is you feel drawn to and wish to express through your creative vision using the camera to construct your intention. The walks around these selected woodlands are aimed to promote our senses and connection to trees/woodland/nature - as we walk, observe and take in our environment we may decide to make a photograph, or not.
Description/Itinerary
Description - Woodland Photography Walk
Tile Hill Wood Woodland Photography
Tile Hill Wood Nature Reserve
The wood is situated between Hawthorn Lane and Banner Lane. This wood has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is stewarded by the Coventry and District Natural History and Scientific Society. It is a mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland covering 69.92 acres, with many excellent examples of Norway Spruce, European Larch and Hazel coppice.
Lying 400 ft above sea level, it slopes gently to the South.
The wood is noted for its rich flora and fauna which has been the subject of much study by the Society.
From 1930 Coventry Corporation established the wood as a Nature Reserve and during this time it had a regular forester. Rides were kept clear and the removal of waste was carried out by horse and cart rather than by tractor or lorry. Over the years many natural and man-made changes have taken place.
During World War II large areas of scrub and conifers were cleared to reduce the risk of fire from air-raids.
The uprooting of 5 acres of mature Spruce during the cyclonic gale of March 1947, the clearance of conifers and planting of young trees over several years, have all helped to alter the ecological balance of the Reserve.
A point of interest is Keepers Meadow, shown on the map, having a canopy comprising mainly Sycamore, Oak, Spruce, Birch. Chestnut, Ash and Pine. This was unplanted land in 1776
Woodland Photography Walk
Woodlands, trees and nature have always been a source of inspiration, therapy and photography for me. I am always drawn to trees wherever I am photographing so I decided to make 2019 the year I spent even more time amongst trees and in the woodlands. My own woodland photography has improved immensely since 2019 as i learnt to read the woods differently and find my own connection to the many challenges of woodland photography.
I want to share and enjoy the tranquillity of our woodland environments with others so am listing twelve-monthly photo walks (one each month, on the first Tuesday of the month) around twelve different woodland habitats across Warwickshire and the West Midlands. The locations are renowned for interest and variety so offer something for every interest (abstract, macro, nature portrait, vista, cameo shot) throughout the year.
My aim is not to instruct you what to shoot, instead, I want to help you develop your own sense of visual awareness, photographic eye and your personal interpretation. I will be happy to help you with the “how to shoot” whatever it is you feel drawn to and wish to express through your creative vision using the camera to construct your intention. You will be able to take these tips away with you to use on your own woodland photography.
“Give a man a fish you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish you feed them for life.”
Forest Bathing
This is the healing way of Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy, the medicine of simply being in the forest. Shinrin-yoku is a term that means "taking in the forest atmosphere" or "forest bathing." It was developed in Japan during the 1980s and has become a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine.
The woodland photography walks around these selected woodlands are aimed to promote our senses and connection to trees/woodland/nature - as we walk, observe and take in our environment we may decide to make a photograph, or not.
“The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.” Albert Einstein
Location
Location - Woodland Photography Walk
Tile Hill Wood - Coventry
Gallery
My Approach
My Objective: Is to Improve Your Photography
“A good teacher gives you a gift for the rest of your life.”
That doesn’t mean “trophy” images – it’s the means to create images you like.
I aim to.
Provide you with an educational, fun, safe, well organised experience.
1. Help you improve your camera craft – settings and use of functions.
2. Help you use your equipment more effectively – lenses, tripods, filters etc.
3. Help you improve your creative thinking and composition.
4. Help you develop an approach to improving your landscape photography.
On this woodland photography walk, Alan will guide you through:
Thinking more about composition
Using colour, texture, shape and more
Framing and designing the shot
Using camera settings to vary the effects
Learn the impact of using long exposure, shallow depth of field and other techniques.
Recognise correct lighting, contrast and texture to shape and form each shot.
Work with Alan to review your shots, try new ideas and improve your woodland photography.