Workshops

'Night Magic' Photography Workshop (Stage 1.) Painting with Light Centennial Park

- Friday 7th June 2013 (This workshop is a part of the 2013 HEAD ON Photo Festival - bookings made on their site at this link below http://headon.com.au/product/painting-light-workshop-peter-solness-7-june

- Friday 23rd August 2013 (places still available)

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'Night Magic' Photography Workshop (Stage 2) Hidden Treasures. Centennial Park

- Saturday June 22nd 2013 (This workshop is a part of the 2013 HEAD ON Festival program - all bookings to be made on their site if you go to this link http://headon.com.au/product/hidden-treasures-adventure-workshop-peter-solness-22-june

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'Night Magic' Photography Workshop (Stage 3.) Cockatoo Island Adventure

- Friday 13th September 2013 - (places still available)

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There are now three levels of the Night Magic workshops. Although not essential, it is suggested that you do each workshop in order from 1 to 3.

Centennial Park Stage 1.

PAINTING WITH LIGHT. 7pm to 10.30pm - This is the ideal introduction to discover the tricks, techniques and the sense-of-play that’s possible, when using torchlight to ‘paint the landscape with light’. It's also a great way to experience the atmosphere of Centennial Park at night.

COST - $135 per person

* DISCOUNTS: 1) 20% per person for 2 or more persons on the same booking i.e. $110. each 2) If you have already done one of the workshops a loyalty discount of 10% applies so cost is $120

EQUIPMENT HIRE: You can also hire a camera $30 and/or tripod $10. Then you can just enjoy the experience and not worry about the right gear.

Centennial Park Stage 2.

HIDDEN TREASURES. 7pm to 10.30pm – The year 2013 is Centennial Park’s 125^th anniversary year and this workshop is specially designed to give you an opportunity to photograph some of the park’s finest statues, buildings and gardens. After a briefing at the Superintendents Residence we head out for a three-hour light-painting adventure, stopping to photograph the splendid statues, gardens and historic sites, such as the Rose and Column Gardens and the Federation Pavilion. It’s Centennial Park like you have never seen it before. I supply each person with a professional quality torch. Numbers are kept to a maximum of 12 people. Some experience of working in the dark with your camera equipment is advised.

COST - $165 per person

* DISCOUNTS: 1) 20% per person for 2 or more persons on the same booking i.e. $135. each 2) If you have already done my other workshops a loyalty discount of 10% applies, so cost is $150.

EQUIPMENT HIRE: You can also hire a camera $30 and/or tripod $10. That way you can just enjoy the experience and not worry about the right gear.

Cockatoo Island Stage 3.

6pm to 10pm: This stage 3 workshop is ideal for those who want to hone their skills further in this amazing ‘post-industrial’ environment. It is also a unique chance to experience the island at night when it is closed to the general public. I also provide a comprehensive list of 'TECHNICAL NOTES' that gives you a deep insight into the methods I employ in my work - in short this is my 'book of secrets'. You wont find this information in any other forum as it is based on my own experiences working many nights in the field. These tips will help you greatly to problem solve, and create the best images possible. I supply each person with a professional quality torch. Numbers are kept to a maximum of 12 people. Some experience of working in the dark with your camera equipment is advised.

COST - $165 per person

* DISCOUNTS: 1) 20% for 2 or more person on the same booking i.e. $135. each 2) If you have already done the Centennial Park workshop a loyalty discount of 10% also applies so final cost is $150.)

See information below for full details about both workshops

Bookings are essential. Strictly limited numbers so book early to avoid disappointment.

Personalised GIFT VOUCHERS also available for any of these three workshops.

Send me an email to register your interest and I will confirm places and send you payment details.

Email: peter@solness.com.au

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Stage 1. Painting with Light Centennial Park

Full Details

The ‘Night Magic’ Stage 1. Workshop will teach you how to apply light in carefully considered and playful ways to create unique and exciting images.

Meeting at the historic Superintendents Residence opposite the Paddington Gates, there will be a slide presentation followed by a briefing about how to achieve the best possible results with your night photos.

There is a FLORAL THEME for these workshops, with stunning native wildflowers set up in different rooms within the Superintendents Residence for you to torchlight. It’s a good exercise to start to understand the effect of torchlight on particular subject matter in the comfort of the residence, before we tackle the parkland itself.

Armed with your new knowledge, we’ll then head out into Centennial Park’s picturesque paperbark and fig groves where you will ‘paint’ the trees and other features with torchlight. There will be other nice surprises, such as a 'Fire Breathing Griffin' to photograph.  You’ll need a digital camera that does a minimum capacity of 30-second exposures, a tripod and a torch. (Some torches are available on request)

Workshop Inclusions

- Arrival at 7 pm at the Superintendents Residence, Paddington Gates, Centennial Park (opposite Oxford Street)

- An audio-visual presentation of the best images from Peter’s ‘Illuminated Landscape’ essays, followed by a Q and A session and descriptions of how certain images were created.

- Discussions about the principles of night photography and the recommended lights and equipment required to create stunning night time images.

- An initial session playing with lighting effects and photographing native wildflowers inside the Superintendents Residence and then light-painting the immediate surrounds outside of the building, to gain confidence working with your equipment in the dark.

- Break into smaller groups and head out to photograph Centennial Park’s splendid paperbark and figtree groves nearby. I will guide you in ways of ensuring the best results, as you ‘paint' the trees, sculptures and landscape with torchlight.

Details

- Parking: Participant parking available inside Paddington Gates, on Parkes Drive. The rangers will leave the 'Paddington Gates Only' open for attendees to park their cars inside the park and to leave after the workshop (you will not be parked in)

- Time: 7.00pm to 10.30 pm.

- Tea, coffee and biscuits are available.

- Bring: Digital Camera with fully charged batteries and a capacity to work on manual settings -especially you need to be able to do a minimum of 30 second exposures. (I do have spare cameras and tripods to hire if you are stuck). Stable tripod, Torch to help you see while you work (i.e. a head-light), Other Torches or lights you would like to play and experiment with, Warm Clothes and Sturdy Footwear.

- Equipment Preparation: Simple procedure to practice before the night (if you have time) Mount camera on the tripod and set your ISO rating to 200, set your lens aperture to F8 and your shutter speed to 30 seconds. Turn off autofocus setting on your camera and hand focus your lens. Turn out the room light and practise focusing your camera at a subject across the room - a bookcase etc. By lighting it with a torch and adjusting the focus ring on your lens.

- Weather contingency: We can work from the shelter of the verandah of the residence if it rains lightly - if it rains really badly, I have backup dates to rebook you into. I will send out an email 24 hours before the event if I have to postpone the night due to a poor weather forecast - so check your emails the night before.

- Fee: $135 per person. * Discounts apply. Contact me via email to arrange payment either via credit card or Netbank transfer. 20% of the fee will be donated to the Centennial Park Foundation to assist in new tree plantings in the park. Please note payments are non-refundable.

Past Testimonials

"I Just wanted to say thanks again for Friday night's workshop - it was truly magical, enthralling and inspiring - and so generous of you to share some insights behind your incredible work." Ingrid (April 2011) See Ingrid's blog about the Night Magic Workshop at this link to her marvelous site, Cohabitaire. http://www.cohabitaire.com/2011/04/peter-solness-night-magic-part-1/

"Hi Peter, Thank you for a wonderful class. It was a lot of fun. I've been dreaming about the world biggest wave!!! Could have spent all night in the park." Roz (Jan 14th 2011)

"Many thanks again for a great workshop. Learning your "paint with light" technique really has inspired me. I hope we might be able to reconnect again some time". Markham (Jan 14th 2011)

For further information about the course you can contact Peter directly at email peter@solness.com.au or phone 0413 304 889.

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Stage 2. Hidden Treasures Centennial Park

Full Details

The Hidden Treasures class will take us beyond the areas covered in the Stage 1. workshop and into the most interesting and photogenic parts of Centennial Park, including the Rose and Column Gardens, the Lachlan Swamps, Paperbark forests and Federation Valley. This is a great opportunity to apply the ‘painting with light’ technique on some spectacular subject matter. 2013 is Centennial Park’s 125^th anniversary year and this workshop will give you an opportunity to photograph some of the park’s finest statues, buildings and gardens.

Meeting at the historic Superintendents Residence opposite the Paddington Gates, there will be a brief slide presentation about the locations we plan to visit and some helpful night photography tips. We will also touch briefly on the technique of layering images in Photoshop, which helps give you greater control when you’re light-painting.

We will then head out on our 3-kilometre circuit of the park, returning to the Superintendents Residence at 10.30pm.

You’ll need a digital camera that does a minimum capacity of 30-second exposures, and a tripod.

Workshop Inclusions

- Arrival at 7 pm at the Superintendents Residence, Paddington Gates, Centennial Park (opposite Oxford Street)

- An audio-visual presentation of the night’s locations we plan to visit and some useful tips to further your skills in light painting.

- Professional quality Maglite torches will be supplied to each person.

- Peter will bring some extra lighting equipment to help achieve some spectacular images.

Details

- Time: 7.00pm to 10.30 pm.

- Bring: Digital Camera with fully charged batteries and a capacity to work on manual settings -especially you need to be able to do a minimum of 30 second exposures. (I do have spare cameras and tripods to hire if you are stuck). Stable tripod, Torch to help you see while you work (i.e. a head-light), Other Torches or lights you may like to play and experiment with, Warm Clothes, Sturdy Footwear, and Snacks. It’s also important to bring a water bottle to avoid dehydration.

- Weather contingency: I will postpone the event 48 hours in advance if the weather forecast is not good and will set new dates. So check your emails the night before the workshop date. If the new dates are not suitable I will refund the money.

- Fee: $165 per person. * Discounts Apply. Contact me via email to arrange payment either via credit card or Netbank transfer. 20% of the fee will be donated to the Centennial Park Foundation to assist in new tree plantings in the park. Please note payments are non-refundable.

For further information about the course you can contact Peter directly at email peter@solness.com.au or phone 0413 304 889.

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Stage 3. Cockatoo Island Adventure

Full Details

Introduction: This workshop on Cockatoo Island shifts the subject matter from Centennial 'parkland' to abandoned dockyard 'textured-industrial’, with some nice sandstone architecture added into the mix. There's a lot of great form and texture here that will really come alive under the considered application of torchlight. Favourite locations are the old 'Machinery Sheds', 'Colonial Sandstone Guardhouse', 'Derelict Cranes', a 'Huge Concrete-walled Bunker' that works splendidly as a creative space for exploring lighting techniques, and more. Further information on Cockatoo Island and its features can be found on this link: http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/about/index.html

This event is designed to further the experience and skills offered at the original Centennial Park Night Magic Workshops. Although not essential, it is suggested that you do the Centennial Park workshops before doing this one if you are not confident or experienced about working with your equipment at night. By reducing booking numbers on this event to just 12 people maximum, I can give better one-on-one tuition to each person. Professional torches will be supplied to each person for the night, so you will have the best lighting available to do your stuff. TECHNICAL NOTES will also be supplied, with vital tips about post-production and other useful information gleaned from many nights working in the field.

The main skill you need to have for this course is confidence in manually focusing your camera at night. Don't worry about this too much if you are not really confident - it just needs a little bit of patience. I can help you on the night if you are struggling.

The course runs from 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm on the island. The fee is $165. Per person, (which also covers a tour fee charged by the island administration - but does not include your ferry ticket). The ferry leaves Circular Quay at 5.30pm and we arrive back at the Quay at 10.30pm. (This gives you four hours on the island to photograph) You can also arrive independently on another ferry service of your choice and meet us there. During the summer months when the sunset is late I will be rejigging this event slightly to include some sunset photography around the island and a presentation of images on a projection screen that is set up in the island's old sandstone gaol.

Workshop Schedule

- 6pm- meet at the Information Office near the Cockatoo Island ferry wharf for a briefing about about the night's activities (Ferry departs from Circular Quay at 5.30pm and arrives at Cockatoo Island at 6.00pm, or else you can choose to arrive earlier via a ferry service that suits you and meet us there). The format of the workshop is influenced by the later sunset times during the daylight saving months so each event will have slight variations.

- 6.30pm. Head out to arranged locations and begin shooting. (In the summer months we will begin with some sunset and twilight shooting sessions using the unique aspects of the island and its many vantage points looking across the harbour to the city etc. Once it is dark we will be concentrating on an old crane, the diver sculpture, the convict precinct, old industrial building facades and the sandstone guardhouse.

- 10pm. Return to the ferry wharf. Debrief. Ferry departs for Circular Quay at 10.09pm.

Details

- Bring: Digital Camera with fully charged batteries and a capacity to work on manual settings - especially you need to be able to do a minimum of 30 second exposures. A good stable tripod is also essential if you want to get good quality images. (if you have any equipment needs notify me 24 hours before the event. I will have cameras and tripods for hire if you are stuck)

- You will be supplied for the night with a professional Maglite torch with focusing beam features. As well as two small coloured torches for special effects. (Feel free to bring your own torches if you prefer)

- Once payment has been received I will email out a resources kit that will include the technical tips and notes detailing how to take great night photos, plus a map of the island and a ferry timetable.

- Optional Slide Presentation - I will be doing a brief projection of light-painted images in the old sandstone gaol. You can choose to sit down and take a break and view this (last about 20 minutes) or you can continue photographing the nearby locations.

- Bring Warm Clothes, Sturdy Footwear and some refreshments, as there are no food outlets on the island at night, except for drink and snack machines near the ferry wharf. (This may change over the summer months when the island cafe will stay open for later)

- Equipment Preparation: Main thing is to have plenty of battery power and a stable tripod. If your tripod is dodgy you can hire one from me (but you must let me know before the event so I can bring it to the island)

- Fee: $165 per person. * Discounts apply. Contact me via email to arrange payment via Netbank transfer etc. Please note payments are non-refundable. (Except for weather issues as per above paragraph)

For further information about the course you can contact Peter directly at email peter@solness.com.au or phone 0413 304 889.

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'Engraved Illuminated Landscape Maglite torches now available'

For the discerning night-photographer, this is the ultimate tool to get that great nocturnal image. The Maglite is my favourite torch, and I wouldn't go on any shoot without it. It has great coverage, a quick focus beam and is weighted perfectly to fit into the palm of your hand. The engraved torches have the 'illuminated landscape website' address on them and can also be personalised with your own name. It would also make a great gift. As Daryl Kerrigan says in this video clip of the 1997 film the Castle 'This is going straight to the pool room'. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5KbMolsUPA Price is $165. for the 3D Battery model or $155. for the 2D Battery model) plus postage. Send me an email for payment and delivery details. peter@solness.com.au