Joy of Seeing – La Estrellita

These workshops are suitable for photographers of all levels of experience.

• If you are a beginner then it will be helpful to be familiar with the important features of your camera and some knowledge of the core principles of exposure, and depth of field.
• If you are a seasoned enthusiast, then maybe a change of scenery and a fresh outlook could be the catalyst for a whole new phase in your creative work. Our “ rediscover the joy of seeing” approach could be the perfect creative tonic.

For those with some experience of mindfulness, this workshop is a basic introduction.

That depends to a degree on your motivation.

Do be aware that we are trying to do something different. By coming on our workshop you are investing in (hopefully) a new approach to our wonderful artform of photography.

It is not a landscape workshop (nor any other genre). Neither is it a guided tour (although we will explore and experience the Alpujarra as fully as possible).

Nothing is off limits except being closed to possibilities – you should come with an open mind, both for images you will make and for appreciating those that your companions will make.

• If it is your wish to “do better” in competitions and to gain distinctions, we believe that the individual expression we encourage is the best and most fulfilling way to achieve those aims. Having the confidence to express how you see and respond to the world in your own unique way is perhaps the final test of an artist.
• If you are competitive, then we hope it is only with yourself and with the intention be a more complete photographer when you leave than when you came.

Ken, we know you’re a bit of a mountaineer! How much walking is involved?

We will emphatically not be mountaineering!

This is a holiday first and foremost. Mindfulness is more about BEING than doing, and we will relax much more than on many photography workshops.

However, we will take some short local walks of up to 5km, optional to suit you and the group. Most will be on wide tracks and on easy grades. The back streets in the hill villages can also be very steep if you explore away from the village centre.

Do bring walking shoes and a day rucksack that will hold your photography kit and a few essentials.

Any kind of camera will be fine along with your usual lenses and accessories. We will be encouraging spontaneity and lightness of approach, so you may find that a compact camera gives you the freedom to travel and work light.

If you bring an SLR camera, prime or zoom lenses in the 18-55mm and 70-300mm ranges will be most useful. The more you are weighed down by equipment and choices, the less mindful your photography is likely to be.

You are very welcome to use the camera in your phone too, but we will be encouraging you to see directly rather than through apps, so your phone should not be your only option.

Don’t forget:

• Storage cards and spare batteries
• Your charger and plug adapters
• Your camera manual – !Important
• A notepad and pen for making your own notes.

Several times through the week, we will share and critique each other’s images.

At La Estrellita we have access to a digital screen for our use, which can connect directly via USB memory or HDMi.

You may find it useful to have your own device on which you can sort and view your images for yourself – a small laptop or tablet computer is ideal. Make sure you have the requisite cable connections between device and camera and also that you are familiar with how to download and sort your files quickly and efficiently and download them to a USB memory stick.

We will also have a card reader for downloading centrally.

When choosing images for sharing, please resist the need to process them, either via apps or Photoshop. Getting things right in camera is one of the core skills we will explore, as is being able to quickly discern the images you like.

If you usually shoot RAW files, then do set up your camera to record a JPEG in addition, to avoid your having to spend additional time in post-processing. In any event, we will help you to make sure your camera is set up correctly at the start of the week.

In some conditions of low light, such as at dusk on our mountain day, you may find a tripod very useful or essential.

But you will find generally that it restricts spontaneity of seeing, so for most of the time we will encourage you to perfect your hand holding and to work in a responsive way.

We certainly will not get you lined up with tripods, all facing the same direction, looking at the same thing!

Wifi is available at La Estrellita.

However, we have a screen-free ethos on all our holidays to enable us to meet and interact with each other as fully as possible. Other than when we are sharing images, use of mobile phones and computers is  not encouraged in communal areas such as the lounge and gardens..