Spectacular New Zealand Photography Workshop & Tour

The workshop is suitable for all abilities, whether you are a keen amateur, or a more experienced photographer. It is not suitable for the complete beginner. Please email sarah@imageseen.co.uk if you have any queries.

Throughout, we will give you both practical and technical advice, to help you gain confidence and develop your photographic technique, as well as individual guidance and hands-on demonstrations in the field.  We will also look at composition and developing your vision.

A minimum of 5 bookings are required for the workshop to proceed. As such PLEASE DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS until you are informed that this number has been reached.

Proposed Itinerary:

Saturday, 23 August

We’ll meet at our centrally located hotel in Christchurch this afternoon for introductions and an overview of our workshop itinerary. Before dinner, we’ll head out for our first sunset shoot in the Port Hills, above the city.

Sunday, 24 August

For our first morning shoot we’ll drive the short distance to the beach at New Brighton, where its modern pier offers many sunrise composition opportunities. After breakfast and check-out, we’ll board our comfortable Mercedes minivan and head inland towards the Southern Alps, crossing the divide at Arthur’s Pass. Along the route we’ll stop to photograph the unusual limestone rock formations at Castle Hill, the vast expanse of the Waimakariri Valley, and on the West Coast, the turquoise glacial river flowing through Hokitika Gorge. A scenic drive takes us south to Franz Josef Glacier, arriving in time for dinner.

Monday, 25 August

An early start to shoot sunrise at Lake Matheson, one of the Crown Jewels of the South Island landscape. Here a moderate walk from the car park to our view point is rewarded with one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and serene sights: the dawn illumination of Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, reflecting perfectly in the still waters of the lake in front of us. After a hearty breakfast, we’ll spend some time photographing the area around Fox Glacier, the enormous glacier itself being the centrepiece of the landscape. After a few hours’ rest we’ll head to the coastal settlement of Okarito, with its distinctive old wharf shed and fishermans’ hut on the shore of  the lagoon.

Tuesday, 26 August

This morning we’ll head out for sunrise at Lake Mapourika, and just afterwards at nearby Lake Wahapo, where we’ll hope to enjoy morning mist among the backlit flaxes and ancient kahikatea trees. After breakfast and a leisurely check-out, we’ll head south on the Glacier Highway and then inland again to cross the Alps at Haast Pass. On this road journey we’ll stop to photograph the beach at Bruce Bay with its stand of old rimu trees, waterfalls, and beautiful river and mountain scenery before arriving in the lakeside resort town of Wanaka in the late afternoon.

Wednesday, 27 August

Sunrise at the famous Wanaka Tree with its backdrop of snow-capped mountains. After breakfast we’ll have an opportunity for some down time before heading out to the remote back country of the Matukituki Valley, with its tree-lined river, waterfalls, sheep farms and rugged natural beauty, dominated by the Rob Roy glacier. A taste of real rural New Zealand in pictures.

Thursday, 28 August

This morning we’ll photograph sunrise from one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the country, a mountain peak high above Lake Wanaka. And to add to this unique experience we’ll be whisked up there in a helicopter! After breakfast we’ll check out and drive over the Crown Range towards Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, paying a visit to the old gold mining settlement of Arrowtown. Onwards to the town of Te Anau, gateway to Fiordland National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Area of South West New Zealand, our base for the next three nights. We’ll photograph sunset from a lookout point above the town, with a spectacular view of Lake Te Anau, the South Island’s largest.

Friday, 29 August

After an early breakfast we’ll head out for a full day exploring some of the spectacular Fiordland scenery on the way to Milford Sound, described by Kipling as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Among the highlights for us to photograph today are Te Anau Downs, a hidden forest waterfall, the enormous Eglinton Valley, Lake Gunn, the powerful glacial-blue Hollyford River and the spectacular, massive Cleddau Valley. We’ll shoot some classic views of Milford Sound from the foreshore in the two hours before sunset.

Saturday, 30 August

We’ll start the day with a sunrise shoot over Lake Te Anau towards Mount Owen and the Murchison mountains. After breakfast we will drive to nearby Manapouri, where we’ll board a boat to take us to remote, uninhabited, unspoilt Doubtful Sound. We’ll then spend three hours aboard a small cruise boat, photographing the rugged snow-capped peaks, verdant rainforest, waterfalls and hidden coves of this special place. The weather will determine our experience of this pristine beauty: grey skies with low hanging clouds and mist will offer us unforgettably moody landscapes, whilst a crisp winter day  with clear skies may present us with beautiful reflections; rain will fill the dozens of waterfalls cascading from the walls of the fiord, creating drama, mood and excitement. With luck, we may also spot some wildlife: dolphins, rare Fiordland crested penguins, native fur seals and maybe even orca.

Sunday, 31 August

After sunrise at Lake Manapouri and breakfast, we’ll retrace our route to Queenstown, where we’ll spend two nights. Upon arrival we’ll have some free hours to explore the town at leisure before meeting again to photograph some of the local landscape scenes until sunset.

Monday, 1 September

Sunrise at the remote, tranquil Moke Lake, followed by breakfast. After a morning break, we’ll take a drive alongside the shore of Lake Wakatipu towards Glenorchy, stopping at Wilson Bay, Bennett’s Bluff and the Dart River. We’ll shoot sunset at the lake before dinner.

Tuesday, 2 September

After a sunrise shoot at the lake front and breakfast, we’ll leave Queenstown and drive through the Kawarau Gorge to the fruit-growing capital of Cromwell and onwards to the Mackenzie Basin, stopping for a shoot in Lindis Pass. Our next two nights are in the small town of Twizel, gateway to Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park. Arriving in the afternoon, we’ll photograph around Lake Pukaki and views of Mount Cook, until sunset.

Wednesday, 3 September

Our last full day is a busy one! A picture-perfect view of Mount Cook at sunrise from Peter’s Lookout, a short drive from our hotel. After breakfast we’ll return to Omarama to photograph the Clay Cliffs geological feature, in morning light. After a break we’ll head to Mount Cook Village and the Hooker Valley, for some spectacular photography in the afternoon: towering snow-covered peaks, glaciers, a thundering river, swing bridges are all on offer here, along an easy walking track taking us into the alpine wilderness of the valley. Our last sunset location is at a ‘secret spot’ in the Tasman Valley for a unique view of Mount Cook and the central alps.

 Thursday, 4 September

Our final sunrise shoot will be at nearby Lake Ruataniwha, after which we’ll have breakfast and check out of our hotel. After stopping at Lake Alexandrina and Lake Tekapo, we’ll return to Christchurch from where onward travel plans can be made from 4pm. 

We will visit a number of locations over the course of the workshop which will offer you numerous challenges and allow you to fully explore your creative potential. The workshop has a relaxed format and is designed to be enjoyable as well as well as educational, so aside of improving your photography you can also enjoy the beautiful surroundings and most importantly have fun!

2-3 – There will be time to review and critique your images and the opportunity to discuss them with Sarah and Neil and the rest of the group as we look back on our days’ photography.

Minibus transportation is provided.

The touring nature of this workshop means that we will be using 6 different accommodations. All rooms are single occupancy and ensuite. In Christchurch; the Distinction Christchurch, for Mount Cook National Park; Mackenzie Country Hotel, in Wanaka; West Meadows, in Franz Josef, for the West Coast; 58 on Cron, in Te Anau; Distinction Luxmore. 

Moderate – A moderate level of fitness is essential for all clients. Most locations are easily accessed however one location involves a walk of around 40 minutes each way, and another potentially up to 90 minutes each way if completed to the end, both undulating (not steep) well-maintained tracks. 

• DSLR or mirrorless camera with ideally both wide angle and telephoto lenses. (A bridge camera will be adequate if it has manual functions – please contact sarah@imageseen.co.uk if you are unsure if your camera is suitable)..
• Tripod
• Cable/remote release
• Filters – a polarising filter, a set of neutral density graduated filter/s and some solid neutral density filters will help you get the best result in-camera.
• A rain cover for your camera.
• A laptop and card reader is useful to select and review your images for the purpose of our image critiques but not essential. Before buying any equipment or if you are unsure of what to bring, please email sarah@imageseen.co.uk for more information.

Please ensure that you insure your photographic equipment. It is also recommended that like with any holiday, you take out personal insurance in case you need to cancel.