Photography Workshop Highlights:
- Coaching on camera, modes, dials and settings in classroom and guidance in the field with professional photographers.
- The mountains photographed in the area where we will be are: Cathedral Peak, The Bell, The Chessman, The Mitre, The Saddle, The Rockeries, Mponjwana and the Mnweni Needles.
- Daily shooting sessions: sunrise, sunsets and portraits.
- Astrophotography (weather dependent).
- Learn post processing tips (editing, retouchng, wrkflow) with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop.
- Guidance and tuition in the field with professional photographers.
What makes this special and unique is that we have combined photographing magical mountainous landscapes with portraits of locals in their homesteads in the mountains. The workshop is hosted by Rory Baker, an accomplished professional photographer and photographic teacher and Carl Smorenberg a professional photographer and one of South Africa’s best landscape photographers where the Drakensberg is his backyard.
The Mnweni Valley offers some of the most spectacular opportunities for landscapes with views of many of the Drakensberg’s most famous peaks and mountains: Cathedral Peak, The Bell, The Chessman, The Mitre, The Saddle, The Rockeries, Mponjwana and the Mnweni Needles and everything in-between. Photographing these mountains will not be restricted to wide angle lenses but will provide opportunity for making landscape photo with zoom lenses up to about 400mm
This workshop does not require any strenuous hiking.
Day 1: Arriving at Mnweni:
All guests to meet at Mnweni at around 1:00pm in the afternoon. All details, directions including a PIN for Google maps will be provided when making a booking. After settling in to the accommodation we will meet in the meeting room for a light snack and refreshment. We will also have a short presentation and introduction to what will be done over the workshop period. After that we will head into the hills for a sunset photo session.
Weather conditions play a huge roll in the actual activities schedules, we wait until we know what the weather is going to do and then decide on the next day's exact itinerary.
Day 2 : Workshop Schedule:
It will be an early start so that we can arrive at our photographic locations before sunrise. Coffee and rusks will be available before we leave! The sunrise locations will be pre-determined the night before and the group will also be split so that there is no overcrowding in one area.
After sunrise we switch gears and will visit one or two homesteads in the mountains where we will photograph a family going about their daily routine. This is a fantastic opportunity to get some amazing photos both posed and unposed.
After the portrait session we will make our way back to our lodge where we will enjoy a brunch.
After brunch we will do a classroom session where we will discuss the mornings activities and any photographic issues that are raised. We will also download our images and do a post-processing session, providing tips in both Lightroom and Photoshop on post processing.
Time will be made for a short siesta and rest before we head out for the sunset session to pre-determined locations.
After sunset we will make our way back to the lodge and enjoy a hearty meal and refreshments which will be laid on.
It may be possible to do some star-trails if there are no clouds after dinner.
Day 3: Final day:
It will be another early start so that we can arrive at our photographic locations before sunrise. Coffee and rusks will be available before we leave! The sunrise locations will be pre-determined the night before and the group will also be split so that there is no overcrowding in one area.
After sunrise we visit another homestead in the mountains where we will photograph a family going about their daily routine. This is a fantastic opportunity to get some amazing photos both posed and unposed.
After the portrait session we will make our way back to our lodge where we will enjoy a brunch.
After brunch we will do a classroom session where we will discuss the mornings activities and any photographic issues that are raised. We will also download our images and do a post-processing session, providing tips in both Lightroom and Photoshop on post processing.
After the classroom session, early afternoon we will close out and head back to our own homes.
My Photo Safari understands that a photo safari or tour is probably a once in a lifetime experience and traveling with a lot of equipment may be cumbersome. We therefore offer a rental service either of our own equipment or hired from a third party on your behalf.
To view more about eqyipment rental visit the Equipment Rental Page.
R5,250.00 pp sharing
Accommadatons will be rondavals with 4 beds and shared ablutions.
Single Suppliment upon request (subject to available beds). Should a couple wish to have a rondaval to themselves there will be an additional cost and subject availability when booking.
Photography Workshop price includes:
- Accommodation expenses as described.
- Gate entry fees and or permits required for entry to the areas we visit.
- All meals, non-alcoholic beverages and refreshments as indicated in the Itinerary.
Photography Workshop price does not include:
- Transportation to or from the workshop destination.
- Gratuities and tips - see gratuities in FAQ’s.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Any activities not included in the Tour Itinerary.
- Personal purchases and souvenirs and room service items at the hotel or camp.
- Telephone - see telephone communications in FAQ's.
- Travel and medical insurance - click here to see Insurance in Terms and Conditions.
How to confirm your seat:
- Send and email to Email Booking Inquiry or complete online booking inquiry – Online Booking Inquiry.
- My Photo Safari will send you a Booking Form plus all relevant information about the workshop for you to complete.
- Once we receive completed Booking Form and it is approved we will invoice you for the deposit.
- Your seat on the workshop is only confirmed once we have received your completed booking form and your deposit.
- A non-refundable deposit of 30% is due to confirm your booking for this workshop.
- Full payment is due 30 days before the start date of the workshop.
- See cancellation policy in our Terms and Conditions, which we will send to you with the booking package.
