MOURNE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Lough SHannagh & Doan
saturday 25th january 2020

Discover the Kingdom of Mourne

I am delighted to be offering this series of new Mourne Photography Workshops in collaboration with two great friends and two brilliant photographers; Ryan Simpson and Alistair Hamill.

Between us, we have countless hours of experience hiking all over the mountains, in all seasons, at all times of day and night and in all sorts of weather.

We not only have come to know this place well; we have come to be truly at home here. We know the rhythms and seasons of the year. We know how the landscapes look under different light. And we have come to know the great inspiration it is to stand in the heart of the Kingdom of Mourne, looking up at an imposing peak, or looking down over the sweeping valleys below.

And so our plan is not just to show you around the mountains. But to help you to discover them.  You will learn the technicalities of photography, but more than that, you will come to experience the breathtaking wonder that waits to be uncovered in this unique landscape in Northern Ireland.

Doan & Lough Shannagh

Doan is the often overlooked gem tucked right into the heart of the Kingdom of Mourne. It's not the biggest; it's not the steepest; it's not the most imposing. But its diminutive stature belies a photogenic beauty unique in the Mournes. From the summit, you have a compete 360 degree panorama looking up at the taller peaks around. If there is anywhere that makes you feel like you are in the Mournes not just on them, then this summit does. Then there's the views down into the valleys - with the Silent Valley Reservoir stretching away to the south and Lough Shannagh to the west. And, of course, let's not forget all those rugged tors just waiting to provide all sorts of interesting foreground detail. As far as fully immersive Mournes experiences go, this one is hard to beat.

Itinerary

Saturday 25th January 2020

11am - Meet and Greet at Ott Car Park

This is the start and ending point for the day. Alistair and I will formally introduce ourselves and share with you the plan for the day. 

11.15am - 2.30pm

We'll start our journey following the Ott track leading towards the Mourne Wall stopping on the way up to photograph down into the Fofanny Valley.  Based on conditions we will then decide the best places to stop and in what order (explaining the rationale for that choice).  Our options include Ott mountain, Carn, the shore of Lough Shannagh and the slopes of Slieveloughshannagh.
During this period Alistair and I will guide you in creating strong compositions and the settings to use to capture a sharp and well-exposed image.

2.30pm - 3pm

We will hike to Doan mountain which has 360 degree views of the High Mournes, Ben Crom reservoir, Silent Valley and Lough Shannagh.

3pm - 5pm

Doan will be our sunset location for the day and has a number of compsotiional options and everyone will have plenty of space to find their own shots. We will react to the light (or lack of light!) to help you come away with shots you are pleased with.

5pm - End of the Workshop

We begin the journey home, arriving back at Ott car park at approximately 5.15/5.30pm.  Alistair and I will be very happy to share post-processing tips and answer any questions you may have.

Who is it for?

This workshop is suitable for both beginner photographers right up to those who are more advanced but simply want to be guided to some new and largely unexplored locations to expand their portfolio.

We will cover topics such as:

• Planning a shoot in detail;

• Composition;

• The Exposure Triangle (shutter speed, aperture and ISO);

• Long exposure photography; and

• Post-processing tips.

Fitness & Equipment

A good level of fitness is required for this workshop as we will be walking on uneven ground for approx 6 miles, with reasonable ascents in places.

Suitable walking boots and waterproof clothing should be used.  As a rule of thumb, prepare to over-dress rather than under-dress as even during a summer's day temperatures can quickly plummet on higher ground. You'll need a base layer (t-shirt, long or short sleeved), a mid-insulating layer (warm fleece) and an outer layer (hard or soft shell jacket) for protection from the elements. A waterproof layer is essential. Please also bring a head torch. Whilst it will still be bright as we begin walking down, closer to the finish it may become dark.
 

What to Expect...

How much does it cost and what do I get for that?

The workshop has a cost of £95 which includes:

• 2-Guide Tuition: Guided hikes and photography tuition from both myself and Alistair Hamill during the whole course;

• Post-Production Tutorial: Post production is an important part of the photographic workflow. After the workshop, Alistair or I will offer to take one of your images and do our own post production on it to show you how we would approach this part of the process. You will be sent a video of us doing the editing so you can learn a few Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop skills too.

• A brand new and totally exclusive Mournes workshop eBook, written by myself, Alistair Hamill and Ryan Simpson. It includes: a collection of our best Mournes photos; a guide to composition and light in the Mournes; background to the history and geology of the place; a photographer's guide to the various summits and valleys of the mountains. This eBook is only available to participants of the workshops.

• Maximum group size is 6 people, to ensure plenty of one-to-one tuition.

SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THE WORKSHOP

Unfortunately, this workshop is now sold out.

If you are interested in further Mourne workshops - you can sign up for the mailing list here: https://goo.gl/forms/LJNJLiKujQ7jgdLC3

Please read my terms and conditions before booking as booking a workshop confers acceptance.

Your guides

Stephen Wallace