Rathbones and Páramo are teaming up with professional outdoor photographer, Dave Willis, to offer Photography Workshops.

Duration 4 hours; cost £30 per person and you will receive a free Paramo Cambia T-shirt (RRP £25).

Available on Thursday 15th, Friday 16th and Saturday 17^th May 2008.

Photography for Fell Walkers

If you already own a camera but feel you are not getting the best out of your days on the hill then this is the photography workshop for you. Professional outdoor photographer Dave Willis will show you how to achieve dynamic images and professional results with your photography in the stunning surroundings of the Borrowdale fells.

We will be exploring the photographic opportunities along the stunning Watendlath Valley, starting at Ashness Bridge and then visiting Surprise View, Watendlath Beck and finishing at Watendlath village and tarn. Participants will then be free to return to Ashness Bridge at their own pace or to continue their day, walking amongst the stunning scenery of the upper Watendlath Fells. You may like to take in Blea Tarn and Dock Tarn in a circular tour, which would make a fine day out and an opportunity to practice what you have learned in our morning workshop.

Itinerary:

Meet at Ashness Bridge Car Park. GR NY 269196 on the Watendlath Road at 9.15am.

9.30am

Ashness Bridge:
The basic principles of landscape photography at Ashness Bridge.
Photographing moving water.
Using a tripod.
Use and function of landscape filters.

10.00am

Walk to Surprise View

10.30am

Surprise View:
Photographing views and panoramas.
Composition.
Using different lenses or zooms.

11.00am

Walk to Watendlath Beck

11.30am

Photographing figures in the landscape
Photographing action – walking shots
Close up photography – plants and flowers

12.00pm

Walk to Watendlath village

Photographing buildings
Creating interesting travel shots
Abstract photography – patterns and shapes

1.00pm

Lunch with questions and answers

1.30pm
Finish.

Workshop members may choose to return to Ashness Bridge along the same route or continue their day’s walk from this point.

Information

What camera equipment will I need?

You can bring your normal camera that you would usually take on the hill, even a small compact camera – film or digital - but this is an opportunity to learn some new, professional techniques so you may want to bring the following equipment if you have it:

SLR camera - film or digital

Lenses from wide angle to telephoto

A recent press release illustrates Daves status as a truly leading photographer:

Dave Willis named as one of the “Worlds’ Top Sport & Action Photographers”

A new book published this month showcases the work of a number of top sports and action photographers from around the world, including Dave Willis, who makes his home in Shap.

Renowned photo-book publisher, RotoVision have released this new book by Andy Steel, to highlight the careers and expertise of 10 of the most prominent action photographers living today and Dave Willis was surprised and delighted to be invited to contribute after nearly 25 years in professional outdoor sports and action photography both in the Lake District and worldwide locations.

Profiled in the final chapter, “Adventure Sports”, Dave’s portfolio of 12 images included alpine mountaineering, Lakeland rock climbing, mountain biking, canoeing, European snowboarding and canyoning from the Grand Canyon, with one of the snowboarding images also chosen for the front cover.

Quote…”Dave Willis didn’t study photography at college, instead learning to fine-tune his skills while treading a fine line between life and death (!) in the midst of spectacular activities that come under the banner of adventure sports.

As a prolific adventure photographer, he provides advertising and brochure photography for the outdoor industry, provides PR and stock images for national organisations and tourist boards and provides photo-shoots and features for many outdoor magazines…”

Indeed in 2006 Dave Willis was the featured photographer at the Kendal Mountain Festival with an exhibition of his rock climbing photography on display in the main gallery.

Currently he has been working on several major commissions with Cumbria Tourism (images can be seen at www.golakes.co.uk) and also finding time to teach photography at Kendal College – where students were surprised to find their tutor was rather more experienced than they had expected!

The World’s Top Photographers’ Workshops - “Sport & Action”

by Andy Steel

published by RotoVision,